Peter Gray

Peter Gray No more lonely nights The Original Hank has left the building, 55 years young! If there's a place where old country singers go when they're done entertaining people on this planet, then Peter Gray has left for that place. Peter was born in Redding, CA. and from the beginning he was very special. A person born with Downs Syndrome at this time wasn't expected to do much but Pete was one of the few born without congenital defects that would certainly bring about an early death. He went to school for many years at the Monte Vista School in Redding, CA. and then went to work. One of his favorite sayings was, "a man's got to do what a man's got to do" and he believed a man had to go to work. Sundays were spent getting ready for work on Mondays! Every other waking moment of his life was spent in his make-believe recording studio, he believed this to be his full-time job and he worked at it every chance he could. Peter had many gifts, but it was in the studio where he did his best work, presenting shows starring Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, Hank Jr., Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and of course Roy Orbison. His amazing knowledge of these legends and their music brought many fine women to tears. Pete never met a woman he didn't love! And I never met a man more worthy of love than my big brother Pete, always the gentleman who lived and died with grace. A distant second to singing would be dancing with a woman and Pete could swing with the best of them! Preceded in death by loving parents, Otis and Deloris Pine and his favorite Aunt Jean and Uncle Jim Bentle, cousin Danny Bentle, best friend and fellow musician (Elmo) Curtis Anderson. Peter is survived by his sister Rhonda Pine-Hovseth and husband Robert who he lived with for the past l5 years here in Utah. His sister Joyce, many cousins, nieces and nephews and a list of girlfriends and ex-wives too long to mention. But they know who they are! Even though he worked harder than most to do the right thing and exceeded the expectations of many who knew and loved him, he still experienced prejudice and disrespect. Even when it was obvious to us that those whose judgmental gaze were naive to his abilities - the pain and hurt feelings of being called names like "retard" or worse often ended in teary, emotional break downs. So as a final lesson to us, I hope we take a moment to teach and demand from ourselves a courtesy and respect for these special people we see each day! Peter will be fondly remembered by those he touched and his loss will be forever felt!