William Hershall Gray

Beloved father and husband, William Hershall Gray passed away on June 22, 2022.

Hershall was a life-long resident of Excelsior Springs and Wood Heights, Mo. He fought a valiant fight against cancer and heart failure over the past four years. He was born in Excelsior Springs to Ellen Nadeen (Hughes) and William Cleo Gray on August 5, 1954.

Hershall is survived by his wife, Francine; his three children, Andrea Gray (Matt Lopez), Kathleen “Katy” Stanfield and William Michael Gray; sisters, Renee Richardson Bradley (David) and Carol Sue Summers (Kim); foster sister, Estella Bradley; one grandson, Caden Lopez and Caden's grandparents, Ron and Carol Lopez; along with his close friend, Jared Sartin and his numerous nieces and nephews whom he adored. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Sharon Eldredge Yarges; his father-in-law, Franklin Eldredge; and his son-in-law, Mitchell Stanfield.

Hershall had many ‘jobs’ including his most important one as a stay-at-home Dad for some formative child raising years, but he was a genius at fixing things and being a mechanic. If it was broke, he could fix it. He loved to hunt and fish, even if he didn’t get to do it often. He always had a big smile and was loved by everyone that knew him, which was just about everyone around town. Hershall was quite the jokester and was always entertaining everyone with his wonderful sense of humor....and he knew every commercial jingle that ever existed and sang them often. He attended and was previously an elder for the West Tracy Church of Christ.

Visitation services will be held Monday evening June 27, 2022 from 6 to 8 pm at Park Lawn Northland Chapel in Liberty Mo. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the same location with burial immediately following at Hillcrest Cemetery in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Visitation services will be held Monday evening June 27, 2022 from 6 to 8 pm at Park Lawn Northland Chapel in Liberty Mo. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the same location with burial immediately following at Hillcrest Cemetery in Excelsior Springs, Mo.