VANCE B. GRAY SR.

TRENTON – Vance B. Gray, Sr., 70, died Dec. 11, 2010, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born Dec. 5, 1940, in Eaton, he was the eighth child of Richard Kenneth and Leone (Neale) Gray. Vance graduated from Danforth High School in 1958. A hardworking and stylish athlete, Vance shined most on the basketball court. His senior year, he led his Tigers to an undefeated season. But, it was his love of all sports that carried him through his entire life. He was an accomplished tennis player, could hit fly balls until the sun was well past setting, and found immense joy in “gunning on the coast” and bird hunting. Most of all though, he was at his very best on the golf course. Whether playing with family or competing against friends, Vance took great pride in playing well and playing fast. He will be particularly missed by his fellow members of Kebo Valley Golf Club, especially Ted Leadbetter, his “pard” and cart mate. Vance’s devotion to life was most found in his humor. A charming and charismatic storyteller, Vance could equally captivate rooms both large and small. He always made you feel that you were the most important person in the room. After high school, Vance moved to Millinocket, and not long after married his high school sweetheart, Patricia. He worked in the automotive field until 1964. Eventually, he decided to venture out on his own, and established Gray’s Auto Sales, Orono. Although a born salesman, it was truly Vance’s work ethic that provided him with his greatest successes. It was always more important to him to help than it was to sell. In 1972 Vance changed direction and began what inevitably became a prominent career in real estate. Working under the tutelage of Goodwin Wisemen, Vance quickly established a reputation for extraordinary service and uncompromising fairness. He found his eventual niche working on the beautiful coast of Maine. Affectionately known as the “Island Man of Maine,” Vance worked tirelessly through the 1970s before once again setting out on his own. He started Downeast Properties, Blue Hill, and subsequently built it into one of Maine’s premiere real estate companies. A true measure of any man’s success is the long-term relationships that are cultivated in business and Vance always felt that his relationships were his greatest assets. Vance is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Patricia; his son, Vance Jr. and his wife, Maggie, of Bangor, and their children, Vance III and Erin “Peeper,” and a great-grandson, Tristan Vance; and two daughters, Rebecca and her husband, Stephen Loose, of Hammondsport, N.Y., and Karen and her husband, Patrick Walsh, of North Hampton, N.H., and their children, Caroline, John-Patrick, Emma “Doodles” and Neale. He was especially close to his sister, Beverly Bubar and her husband, Linwood, of Millinocket. Her unwavering love throughout the years meant a great deal to him and his family. Also surviving Vance are his siblings, Lucille Rollins of Mesa, Ariz., Maxine Virgie of Houlton, Rex and Gloria Gray of Hillsboro, N.H., Roger and Jan Gray of Plato, Mo., and Richard and Cindy Gray of Smyrna Mills. He was predeceased by two sisters, Anita and Joan. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. A reception will be afterward at the funeral home. A trust has been established in Vance’s memory to foster the development of junior golfers via a scholarship toward secondary education and collegiate golf. Checks should be made payable to The Vance Gray Memorial Golf Scholarship, and mailed care of Vance Gray Wealth Management, Inc., 128 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.