Danny Gray Jr.

Daniel (Danny) Webster Gray Jr., 71, of Ooltewah, went home to be with the Lord, Feb. 22, 2017, surrounded by family and friends.

Danny graduated from Kirkman High School in 1965.

Danny was preceded in his death by son, Bubba Gray; parents, Dan and Sadie Gray; brothers, Herbert and Pete Gray; sister, Barbara Fugatt.

Danny started as a patrol officer with the Chattanooga Police Department in August 1967. His various roles with the department included a Motorcycle Officer, Narcotics Detective, Burglary Detective and created the Police Athletic League (P.A.L). He started the P.A.L program in 1990 to give children in the inner city a way to play organized sports. Danny ran the P.A.L program for 10 years before retiring as a Sergeant in 1999.

For more than 60 years, Danny was a player, coach, fan and mentor for various sports teams/players in the Chattanooga area. Danny coached and played basketball, football, baseball, and softball for numerous organizations. In his later years, Danny enjoyed watching/coaching his own grandchildren. Danny could always be found at a gym or a ballfield supporting someone he loved; especially Aubbie and Cason. He was a TSSAA official for 28 years.

Danny was survived by his wife, Juanita Gray; son, Daniel Gray III; daughter, Catherine (Muffet) Gray-Hulgan; son-in-law, David Hulgan; daughter-in-law, Lori Gray; grandchildren, Michael Kirby, Dustin Gray, Zane Gray, Aubbie Collake, Bryce Gray and Cason Gray; sister, Sheryl (Eugene) Myhan; and several cousins, nieces and nephews, and special friend, Bridgett Ayers.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Vanderbilt Hospital, the Vanderbilt Transplant Team, the Vanderbilt LVAD Team, the Vanderbilt Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Avalon Hospice Services, and Lyndia Fryar.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ooltewah United Methodist Church.

Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to view the memorial tribute and share condolences to the family.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ooltewah United Methodist Church.

Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home and Cremation Services, East Brainerd Road.