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Elijah “Carroll” Gray, also known as “Tubby”, walked toward his Resurrection from Sycamore Shoals Park on the brilliantly beautiful afternoon of March 10, 2024. His beloved Labradoodle, Mabel, was by his side. He was 75 years old.

 

“Tubby” grew up in Roan Mountain, Tenn. He was the son of the late Robert Carroll and Eloise Heaton Gray.

 

Carroll graduated from Cloudland High School, where he played football and basketball. He graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with an emphasis on Mathematics. He later returned to complete several accounting and business courses. He taught math at South Junior High from 1970 until Liberty Bell Middle School was opened; he taught math there until he accepted a plant accountant position with Magnavox in Greeneville. He rose to the position of plant controller, and then accepted a controller position with Thor Power Tool. Later, he became an accountant with the Department of Family Medicine at ETSU, and finished his career at Qualified Plan Administrators, Inc., as a retirement plan administrator in 2010.

 

After he retired, he became involved with a monthly preparation of meals for the Melting Pot. He often reached out to various friends and family by visiting them in the hospital and at home. His favorite hobby was fly fishing; you could often find him at South Holston Lake, Watauga River, or Laurel Fork. When health reasons prevented him from continuing that hobby, he spent hours playing and perfecting his craft at Bridge on the computer.

 

Carroll was a United Methodist; his membership was with Cherokee United Methodist, and he attended Otterbein United Methodist Church in Johnson City, and Mafair United Methodist in Kingsport.

 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Linda Ann Gray, and one sister-in-law, Melanie Cooke Smith Hartley.

 

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Glenda Cooke Gray; one daughter, RebaAnn Michelle Gray; three sisters, Mary Shell (Joe), Pam Harr (Gene), and Robin Folse (Ricky); one sister-in-law, Barbara Shelton; two nephews, Steven Shell (Alicia) and Bradley Smith (Nora); five nieces, Emily Russell (Keith), Laura Chandler (Matt), Madison Snellings (Russell), Victoria Beall (Landon) and Courtney Jarbeau (Jamie); six great-nephews, Logan Russell, Corey Russell, Cade Russell, Ethan Shell, Omar Smith and Jude Jarbeau; nine great-nieces, Haley Vance, Emma Shell, Megan Shell, Aubrey Chandler, Kate Chandler, Presley Snellings, Reagan Snellings, Hanna Smith and Olivia Jarbeau; one great-great nephew, Ryan Vance; and one great- great-niece, Addie Vance.

 

A Celebration of Life Service is planned for June 22. The place and time will be determined later. The family requests memorial contributions be sent to Mafair United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tenn., or Otterbein United Methodist Church in Johnson City, Tenn. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.tetrick funeral home.

 

Tetrick Funeral Services, 3001 Peoples Street, Johnson City, TN 37604, is honored to serve the Gray family.