George L. “Scotty” Gray, age 98, died of pneumonia on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Holy Rosary Residential Living in Miles City. He was born February 19, 1917, the second of six children, to John E. and Louisa Duff Gray, homesteaders on their ranch north of Forsyth on the Little Porcupine Creek. Both parents had immigrated from Scotland, John from Banff in 1904, and Louisa from Huntly in 1912. Growing up, George saw the community of homesteaders shrink, as people struggled to make a living on 320 acres of dryland prairie. The Cottonwood School he attended closed in 1928 after dwindling to only the Gray siblings. With his mother and siblings, George then moved to Forsyth during the week. During high school, a writing assignment to compose a three-chapter book sparked George’s ambition to write a book about the homesteaders. He undertook the work at age 87, completing I’m a-Tellin’ You: Homesteading the Little Porcupine three years later. During the “Dirty Thirties,” George helped his father slaughter and skin 100 ewes for the $1.00 per pelt bounty, an incentive to reduce the stock burden on eroding land.
After graduating from Forsyth High School in 1935, George worked at the ranch before joining the CCCs (Civilian Conservation Corps) a Depression-era program that provided work for young men. Half the $30/mo. salary went directly to the enrollee’s parents. George was able to save his money andfelt rich when his savings mounted to $400 in 1939, enough to enroll in Billings’ Polytechnic (later called Rocky Mountain College). George alternated studying and working to earn tuition until 1941.
When a high draft number meant no one would hire him, he decided to volunteer for the army with his younger brother Woodrow “Woody.” Assigned to the Chemical Warfare division, George transferred as soon as he could, aided by his ability to type. Serving first in California, he volunteered for overseas service, which took him to England and then Europe. Crossing the Atlantic, George recalled, the hammocks on his troop ship (the Queen Mary) were hung so closely that a man standing between two had his chest against one hammock and his back against the other.
Discharged from the Army in 1945, he completed his B.A. in Business Administration at the University of Montana on the G.I. Bill. Graduating in 1950, George (now known by the nickname “Scotty”) worked first as a billing clerk at the Gypsum Manufacturing Co. in Lewistown, before becoming Land Law Examiner for the Bureau of Land Management in Billings. With his ski buddies, Scotty scouted the runs for the Red Lodge Ski Area.
In 1956, he moved to Casper, WY to work for the Petroleum Ownership Map Company (POMCO), which had won a federal contract to revise the BLM land records for Utah. On the Casper tennis courts he met Eleanor Nickerson and they were married on July 11, 1959. In 1962, his son, George, was born. Scotty’s job with POMCO ended with the federal contract so in 1963 he started as office/account manager and salesman for Denham Homes, where he enjoyed the variety of the people he encountered. After the Pan American Oil Co. left Casper, the local housing market stuttered, and in 1964 Scotty was laid off. The same year, his mother and older brother John, Jr., “Bus” were killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. His daughter, Linda, was born in August 1964, and shorthly afterwards Scotty landed a job as Administrative Officer at the BLM District Office in Ely, Nevada. The same position opened up in Miles City in April 1965, and Scotty moved for the last time, working there until he retired in 1986.
Scotty was preceded in death by an infant son, his wife Eleanor and four of his five siblings: John, Jr., “Bus,” Woodrow “Woody,” Elsie (Armstrong Longley), and William “Bill” Gray. He is survived by his son, George Gray (Dulce María) of Saratoga, Calif.; his daughter, Linda Gray (Stephen Behrendt) of Wellington, New Zealand; and his sister Mary Kiser Fisher (Lowell) of Mesa, Ariz.
Visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate to the Rosebud County Pioneer Museum in Forsyth or to the University of Montana. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday May 1, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday May 1, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday May 2, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment with Full Military Honors
Saturday May 2, 2015
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday May 1, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday May 1, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday May 2, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment with Full Military Honors
Saturday May 2, 2015
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Destiny Carlson says
Thoughts and prayers for all of you. Levi, Destiny, Journey & Quest
dolores and martin steiner says
George and Linda Sorry to hear about your dad. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time.
Bob & Sandy Short says
What a shock to see Scotty’s name in this morning’s obituaries! We missed his 90th birthday party and wanted to attend his 100th in 2017. He was a great guy – a rancher, a family man, and a friend.
Arlene Corbin says
So sorry to learn of Scittys passing
Patti (Green) Ireland says
To Scotty’s family. We are so sorry for your loss. Scotty hired me for a summer job at BLM back in the 70’s (work study during college). Then for several more summers I worked on the fire crew, so saw him often. Then, I was happy to see Scotty again when he moved into Extended Care…..loved his book! He was such an amazing person who accomplished much.
Patti Ireland (for Clifford and Lyla Green)
Kelli (Rooney) Klein says
I always enjoyed visiting with Scotty when he’d come in to the BLM on Valley Drive when I used to work there. He always had a smile. My condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with you all.
Marty and Vicki Griffith says
What a great guy! I started with the BLM in Miles city in 1981 and Scotty was the first manager I met with on my first day. He helped me get started and learning the ropes of the BLM. My prayers are with the Gray family. God Bless.
Peggy Kelly says
George and Linda,
In my time working at the extended care I had the pleasure of working with many residents who knew how to age gracefully and their families who supported this decision. Scotty was one of these residents and you as his family are wonderful examples of how to support a loved one to live the life they chose. Your love for Scotty was amazing to watch in action, as was his for you. I will always remember Scotty and his smile.
David and Cherri Potts says
We were sorry to hear of the loss of George. He was our neighbor for many years on the Little Porcupine. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Penny Pulver Teeters says
I have wonderful memories of having coffee with him at his place during my summers spent on the Little Porcupine at Owen & Vernie Johnson’s place. He had such amazing stories that I listened to — on the edge of my seat and hanging on every word. My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Joan Monaghan says
While looking at Facebook this morning, I learned that Scotty died. I have fond memories of your family. Scotty ad Eleanor were both special people who accomplished many things. They touched a lot of lives and their standards were strong. It is a loss to Miles City as well. George and Linda: I think of you often and enjoy reading about you on Facebook. My thoughts will be with you on Saturday.
Shelley Killen says
George and Linda, Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. You and your families are in my thoughts and prayers.
Merry and Armando DeAnda says
So sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Scotty was in extended care the same time as my father was. We always had conversation every morning. What a wonderful man you father was. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
Louise Edwards says
A classmate and friend for life related the following story of “Scotty” Gray to me…”In Miles City, I know a George Gray [Scottie] who worked for many years at the BLM and his wife Eleanor who was a city librarian. George would have been in his late nineties! Bought an old Savage rifle from him a number of years ago!” Lawrence Torstenbo
Mary Catherine Dunphy says
George and Linda: I loved playing tennis with Scotty and the other seniors in Miles City. He had a wicked drop shot and was a tough competitor. He was a great example of how to live life fully and age with dignity and grace. My sympathy to you both. May he rest in God’s love and peace.
Bev Wallace says
I’m pleased to find Scotty’s obituary through the funeral home website so that I can forward it to some old Silver Run Ski Club (Billings) members. In 1955 Scotty was one of the original incorporators of Grizzly Peak, Inc., the birth of Red Lodge Mountain! And I believe it was he, in the early 50’s, who devised a portable rope tow to enable racers on the Gardner Headwall to ride back up the hill. He was a genius in the rough!! Such a great guy!! I, too, enjoyed his book “‘I’m ‘a-tellin’ you – Homesteading the Little Porcupine.” I did meet Eleanor once, but so sorry I haven’t met George and Linda. Treasure those happy memories of your Dad.