Died January 20, 2021.

Lindale High School, Lindale, TX

Athletic Trainer

Obituary:

Travis went to be with the Lord on January 20, 2021 in Ft. Worth. Travis Allen Gray was born July 8, 1981 in Big Spring, Texas, the son of Tammy Lynn (Payne) Gray. He graduated from Big Spring High School in 1999 before attending Howard Junior College and Midwestern State University for his undergraduate studies in Athletic Training/ Sports Medicine. Travis then graduated with his master’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. He began his extensive career in Athletic Training with the Orthopedic Sports Center in Wichita Falls, then went on to work as an Athletic Trainer at Tyler Junior College for over five years, Head Athletic Trainer for both Brownsboro High School for four years and Chapel Hill High School for two years and most recently worked with the Lindale Independent School District as their Head Athletic Trainer. Travis was an award recipient of the Sandy Miller Most Outstanding Athletic Trainer, the 2016 East Texas Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer of the year and an active member of both the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association and the East Texas Athletic Trainers Association where he served as the Chairman of the Student Trainer Workshop from 2014-2018. Travis also served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Texas State 7v7 Football Championship Tournaments for over 10 years. “Big T” loved his work because he genuinely felt he could make a positive impact in the lives of his students. Off the field he was a wonderful son, husband and father who enjoyed watching his son play sports, being a dance dad with his daughter and traveling to the beach with his family. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his mother; grandmother, Eddie Lou Gray; aunt, Helen Ayers and brother-in-law, Benito “Nuno” Hilario.

Survivors include wife, Rita Gray of Chandler; children, Toby “Rylan” Gray of Chandler, Rhea Isabel Gray of Chandler; brother Toby Dale Gray and wife Heather of Sutton, Nebraska; niece and nephew, Gunner and June Gray; aunt and uncle, Tina and Troy Gray; grandfather, Travis Lamar Gray of Big Spring; mother-in-law, Anita Casillas of Big Spring; brothers and sisters-in-law, Sonyia Melendez and husband Richard, Anthony Hilario and wife Lupita, Barbara Hilario, Tommy Hilario, Richard Hilario and wife Mary, Rudy Hilario and wife Rosa; numerous nieces nephews and a host of other family members and friends.

A visitation will be held from 1-3:00 p.m. Saturday prior to services at Rock Hill. Serving as pallbearers will be Steven “Flaco” Offield, Chuck Smith, Eddy McGuire, AJay Bonner, Mike Ross, Jake Foster, Matt Lawdermilk, Andy Rankin, Richard Melendez, Marcus Melendez, Brent Smith, Justin Waltz, Jason Hooker, Josh Turner, Ryan Hood and Juan Melgoza. Honorary pallbearers with be his Athletic Trainer colleagues.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked for donations to be made to the Tragedy Fund for Travis Gray at any Southside Bank location or to the Lindale Independent School District Education Foundation Travis Gray Memorial Grant. Services were entrusted to the Chandler Memorial Funeral Home Family.To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Travis Allen Gray please visit our Tribute Store.