Rev. Jerry L. Gray

Rev. Jerry L. Gray of Erie, Pa. completed his dedicated and loving service to God, family and friends on January 27, 2025. He was born on January 4, 1944 to Carroll and Dorothy Gray of Natrona Heights, Pa. The family moved to Sarver, Pa in 1956 where Jerry was nurtured in the small country Zion EUB Church (later United Methodist) and received a “call to ministry” to become a Pastor. He graduated from Freeport High School in 1961.

He subsequently graduated from Otterbein College Westerville, OH in 1965 and from Evangelical Theological Seminary Naperville, IL in 1970, after which he was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church. During these years, he worked as youth pastor and assistant pastor at various churches: Beth Eden UM in Rockford, IL, First Congregational Church of Lombard, IL, Riverview UM in Beaver Falls, PA. He also worked as a Youth Ambassador for the Evangelical United Brethren Church operating out of Dayton, OH. In this capacity he traveled throughout the US and Canada working with local EUB congregations and their youth programs.

His first full time appointment was to Trinity UM Church in DuBois, PA. in 1970 and Penfield UM was added in 1971. Here he initiated the “Thursday Night Camper Special” worship service for people who wanted to worship before going away for the weekend, did meditations for the local radio station and started the building campaign for a new Penfield church. Later he was appointed to Bethany UM of Johnstown, PA (1975-1982), where he helped start a preschool program of 200 students which still operates today and helped organize community disaster responses during the aftermath of the Johnstown flood of 1977. In 1982 he was assigned to Glenwood UM of Erie, PA where he happily served from 1982-Dec. 1996. During that time Glenwood added on facilities, encouraged work trips to disaster areas, supported a new Korean Methodist membership and the annual Korean Culture Day celebration. In January 1997 he was appointed as the District Superintendent of the Erie - Meadville District where he served until his retirement in 2004. In retirement, he served the Bethel UM and the White Oak UM Churches in Titusville, PA. During the pandemic he filled in at several small Crawford County UM churches, holding outdoor worship services. Recently he served as occasional supply pastor for St. John’s Lutheran Church Erie, PA.

Meaningful and rewarding times in his ministry were the many Mission work trips throughout the US, the Caribbean and especially Haiti, helping people recover from poverty and devastating storms. He served many years as a Camp Dean on 100 mile Horseback Trail Rides, leading teenagers and adults through the Allegheny National Forest and into a closer relationship with God. He loved to preach and to tell stories of faith to people in concrete ways that were understandable and relatable to their lives. He also enjoyed his service as District Superintendent working with all the United Methodist congregations and pastors in Erie and Crawford Counties, sensing when appointment changes would be beneficial for both church and pastor. At the same time, he served as a director for the Erie United Methodist Alliance during their expansion of the Rainbow Connection Thrift Store, their initiation of the Refuge Transitional Apartments and acquisition/establishment of the Liberty House for Veterans.

Jerry was an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed many trips to Wyoming, Montana and central Pennsylvania. He loved playing basketball for many years with great friends, dabbling with acrylics and watercolors, building campfires and cooking over the fires at the Allegheny River cottage and reading with his book clubs.

He said his crowning achievement was his marriage to his wife Cheryl. He was extremely proud of their two outstanding children Steve and Jen; their spouses, daughter-in-love Lora and son-in-love Ben; and grandchildren Darrick, Hayden, Wyatt and Charlie; and all their many accomplishments. He’s further survived by his sister, Susan Schwarz; his brothers-in-law, Harry Schwarz and Richard Garton and nieces and nephews: Jamee, Erin, Laura, Ethan and Darrin.

Friends are invited to call on Saturday February 15, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church Parish Center, 2216 Peach St., Erie, PA. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the church sanctuary immediately following with Rev. Ralph Mineo, Rev. John Ciampa, Rev. Alan Harris, Rev. Kathleen Schoeneck and Rev. Dr. Sang Choi co-officiating. The service will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@StJohnsErie/streams. Inurnment will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts/donations in Rev. Jerry Gray’s name may be sent to:

The Good Samaritan Project of Haiti, Inc, C/O Pastor Jean Enock Deroseney, 7276 West Atlantic Blvd. Ste.433 Margate, Fl 33063 or the Erie United Methodist Alliance, 728 West 9th St., Erie, PA 16502.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Wintergreen, 2532 Norcross Rd., Erie, PA 16510.