Staff Sergeant Yance Gray

Memorial Service: Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 1:00 pm at Grace Bible Church in Miles City, MT

Funeral & Graveside Service: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 2:00 pm in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA with full military rites and honors

Staff Sergeant Yance Tell Gray, age 26, of Raeford, NC, formerly of Ismay MT, was killed in action while serving with the United States Army, stationed in Iraq on September 10, 2007.

He was a member of Charlie Troop (1/73 Cav) 1st Battalion, 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.Tell was born on August 4, 1981, in Miles City, MT to Richard and Karen (Parr-Griebel) Gray. He attended Whitney Creek country school through the 7th grade and graduated fromPlevna High School in the spring of 2000. In June of 2000, Tell proudly entered the United States Army. He had completed three active tours of duty, in both Iraq and Afghanistan, his 4th to be completed in November of 2007.

Tell was born to be a solider. As a young boy, he wore out hisGrampa Gray's old army uniform. Around 5 years he came to his parents and told them, Mom and Dad, I know what I want be when I grow up, a ranger in the 82nd Airborne. Tell succeeded in his goal, receiving his Ranger Tab among other various leadership schools and awards to include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign, Iraq Campaign, Global War Expeditionary Award, Global War Sevice Arward, NCO Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon,Expert Infantrymen's Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge,Parachutist's Badge, andExpert Rifleman's Badge.

Tell was introduced to his future wife Jessica Duncan while at home on leave. After a courtship extending two combat tours, Tell and Jessica were married on August 6, 2004. Their love was special; very deep for each other andwere the best of friends. Tell would always tell Jessica "our love can make it through anything that they can throw at us." Tell and Jessica had their first baby Ava Madison Gray on April 3rd 2007. Tell was unable to be there but sat on speakerphone from Iraqthe entire time cheering Jessica on. He was able to meethis daughter four days after she was born and had an amazing 14 days as a new daddy; reading to her, telling her how beautiful she was, and taking so many pictures to bring back to Iraq with him. He wasincrediblyexcited to come home finally and "be with my new little family."

Tell was his happiest when he was giving to others and was a protector to all he knew. He would never show if he was hurting; always trying to be there for others first.

Tell is survived by his wife Jessica and their infantdaughter Ava Madison Gray, 5 months,of Raeford, NC; his parents Richard and Karen Gray of Ismay;his brother Borden and his wife Erica and their children Caiden and Ella of Miles City, MT; his sister Beth and her husband Dax Muri, and their children Orin and Tailey of Ismay, MT;his grandparents, Robert and Betty Gray of Ismay, MT; grandfather Wesley Parr; grandparents Rodney and Margie Griebel;Jessica's parents Wade and TriciaAlexander of Rosebud, MT and Kenn and CarolDuncan of Rapid City, SD; hisbrother-in-law Jeremiah Duncan serving with the US Navy Seabeesin Korea, and sister-in-law Tiffany and her husband Brad Ricciof Fairbanks,AK; grandmother-in-law Betty Howell of Dallas, TX;grandparents-in-law Bob and Pat Duncan of Debary, FL. Tell was preceded in death by his grandmother Marjorie Askin.

The family is asking stories about Tell and condolences be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com to be placed in a memorial book for his daughter Ava to have about her Daddy.