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David W. Gray

February 22, 1944 - October 23, 2025

ANDOVER – David W. Gray, 81, passed away on Thursday (October 23, 2025) at Maple City Nursing Center in Hornell following a long illness.

Mr. Gray was born on February 22, 1944 in Penobscot, Maine to Earl and Erma (Nevells) Gray. He attended Bucksport High School.

David had a working spirit and started at a papermill at the age of 14. In 1979, he settled in Andover where he purchased a 200-acre farm that became his home and lifelong endeavor. David was a self-employed diesel repairman who made his living buying and selling equipment. He would purchase what looked to be unusable scrap and transform them back into machines of working order. To those who knew him he was gifted in rebuilding automatic and John Deere power shift transmissions.

David is survived by five nephews, Clifford, Freddy, Eddy, Earl and Charles Jr.; four nieces, Barbara, Judy, Karen and Amy; a special cousin Jill Briggs; and sister in law, Sandra Gray all of Maine; and close friends Tim and Rachel Hess of Andover and their entire family.

He was preceded in death by four siblings, Galen Gray, Durwood Gray, John Gray and his twin sister Joan Gray.

David loved his horses who he named, Day, Indy and Silver. He looked forward to hay season each year on the farm. He was a devout John Deere man and had a particular liking to 2-cylinder tractors.

He made many trips to Old Forge and the greater Adirondack region where he enjoyed chasing power lines with his dirt bike and snowmobile. He collected various antiques simply because he “liked looking at old stuff.” He had a special fondness for Western movies, that spanned into a dedicated room filled with movie posters and a large collection of VHS tapes.

Though a private man by nature, David found friendship and warmth in the company of the Hess family. Over the years, he found himself joining their holiday dinners and spent many quiet nights at their home.

Visitation will be held Sunday (October 26) from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Wellsville. David will be lain with his maternal grandparents Saturday (November 8) at 10:00 a.m. in Sedgewick Rural Cemetery in Maine. Arrangements are under the direction of Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. © 2025 Baker-Swan Funeral Home.

 

Visitation:
Sunday, October 26, 2025
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Baker-Swan Funeral Home Wellsville

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  1. I love you uncle David you’ll be missed so much,I know I lived in Maine but I always thought of you ,I’ll truly miss you love you niece judie

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