Terri:

I’m a bona-fide California girl, through and through. I was born in Redwood City to Robert and Susan Julian (who were both born in San Francisco). I spent most of my childhood in Fremont, across the Bay from San Francisco, until my mom became pregnant with child number four, Sean. Mom and Dad decided they’d had enough of the city life, and moved my two older brothers, Stuart and Brian, and me to Sonora, a beautiful mountain town due east of San Francisco. Two years later, they brought the fifth and final child into our family, Kevin. Final tally…4 boys, 1 girl.

After high school graduation in 1980, I joined the Army and served one three-year tour of duty, first at Ft. McClellan, Alabama for basic training, and the remaining time at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. It was there I met David, the love of my life. We married in July of 1981, and continued to serve our country, David as a chaplain’s assistant, and I as a medic. Our daughter Jennifer was born in 1983, just six weeks before the end of my three-year tour. So I took the maternity leave and got out. Jennifer was born with spina bifida, and required numerous operations, hospitalizations and ongoing medical care. But she was still the apple of our eyes. Four years later, I gave birth to our second child while stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Christopher came into our lives just nine months before David got out of the service.

We moved to California, and have resided in Lompoc since 1988. Our children had wonderful educations here in town. I home schooled them for six years, during a period of time where Jennifer’s operations became so frequent that her school attendance became too sporadic. This was a wonderful time for all of us, as we had such an opportunity to truly get to know each other, and learn together.

After Jennifer graduated from high school in 2002, I signed up for college classes at our community college in an effort to earn my BSN (nursing degree). Four months into college, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I continued in school for another three months, but had to stop when my immune system became too compromised from chemo to be around a classroom of students.

Four months into my cancer diagnosis, my cancer took an unusual twist, and I was re-diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). The cancer quickly spread to my liver, lungs, lymph nodes and skin. Now, nearly three years later, I can no longer take any chemo. On March 15, 2006, Dr. Lossing said I could no longer tolerate the chemo because of my jaundice, and that my body was shutting down. Unless I had a miracle, we had done medically, all we could do. I shed a few tears and then explained that I knew this in my heart, but that Dave and I were trusting God for a miracle.

My greatest joy in life is serving my Lord, Jesus Christ, and sharing the hope that lies within me to those without hope.

Please visit my other Websites at http://TerriLGray.com & http://terrigray.blogspot.com. 

April 30, 2006: It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce that Terri passed away this morning.  She put up a valiant fight but is now resting in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Obituary

David:

I was born in High Point, North Carolina, March 28, 1959 and I am the son of Harrison Gray of Randleman, NC.

I grew up around dairy, chicken and tobacco farms in Glenola and Cedar Square until I was 17. I learned first hand how hard farming is from the time I was 12 when I started working on a tobacco farm.  Most teenagers today won't even set foot on a farm. I don't care to go back to that kind of work, but I respect farmers a great deal and if it were not for their hard work we would not be able to put good food on the table.

I joined the Army in 1976 and retired early in 1988. I was stationed at (in order) Fort Sill, OK; Bamberg, Germany; Fort Wadsworth, NY; Fort Monmouth, NJ; Fort Sam Houston, TX; Camp Casey, (Tongduch'on, South Korea); Fort Lewis, WA; Fort Gordon, GA and returned to Fort Lewis where I retired with a medical disability.

I met my wife, Theresa (Terri) in 1980 at Fort Sam Houston and we were married July 1, 1981. We have two children, Jennifer and Christopher.

After retirement from the Army, I moved for short stays in Sonora and Sunnyvale, California. I then moved to Lompoc, California for a new job working for Ford Aerospace (later became Loral Aerospace) at Vandenberg Air Force Base. I worked there for 2 years as a Field Engineer in the Data Area. That was the best civilian job I've ever had, although it was working for the Air Force. After being laid-off, I went to work for Delco Electronics in Goleta, California (which was a 47 mile trip twice a day) as a PC Technician. After 9 months I was offered a job by the US Postal Service (also in Goleta) for the position of Mail Processing Equipment Maintenance Mechanic. I accepted the position and about two years later I was promoted to Electronics Technician. I retired from the Postal Service on January 2, 2003 with a medical disability.

I enjoyed being the husband of the best wife any man could dream of. I continue to be  dad to my wonderful children although they seem to need me less as they get older. I am a Christian and attend Lompoc First Assembly of God where I  volunteer my time there as a Sound Technician. I enjoy sitting in front of my computer working on various projects and maintaining this family Web site. I frequently enjoy cooking wonderful meals on my grill (Santa Maria style Tri-Tip is my favorite). When I have time and my health permits it, I enjoy hunting and fishing. I like working on our home's yard and gardening. I also enjoy playing with our family pets, two Boston Terriers, Oreo and Cookie. I also look forward to taking up wildlife photography with my new Canon EOS 30D camera that Terri bought me for my 47th birthday. Of all things, I don't like to eat spinach meatloaf.

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My Facebook Page

David W. Gray

Gray Star City

Jennifer:

Visit Jennifer's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com

Christopher:

Visit Christopher's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com