Dr. Thomas Kevin Gray M.D.
courtesy photo
Dr. Thomas Kevin Gray
CROW AGENCY — Kevin Gray was born number seven of seven children to Nathan F. Gray and Thelma (Pablo) Gray on November 27, 1956, in St. Ignatius, Montana. He passed away April 25, 2016, in Crow Agency of cardiac arrest.
Raised on a small ranch north of Hot Springs, with horses and motorcycles, life on the ranch was one of unrestrained freedom. The primary rule was that if you got hurt while doing something you shouldn’t be doing in the first place, then don’t cry about it.
To his mother’s delight, Kevin always did well in school. He graduated from Hot Springs and went on to study at the University of Montana. After Kevin’s second year at the University, where he competed on the Rodeo Team riding bulls, he decided to take a break from the books.
During this hiatus Kevin continued riding bulls locally and traveled to thoroughbred racetracks across the country from Washington State, New Mexico, Arizona, Kentucky, Florida and California before circling back to work the tracks of Montana. Whether it was with motorcycles, cars, horses or bulls, Kevin enjoyed the fast lane.
After an extended leave from his studies, Kevin again set out and completed a degree in psychology at the University of Montana and went onto medical school at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks where he would graduate in 2001.
At Dr. Gray’s services, someone wondered why at such a late age anyone would take on the challenge of medical school. My answer would be, if you have to ask the question, you wouldn’t understand the answer. Why would anyone ride bulls, ride racehorses or even climb mountains…..because.
For the next ten years Dr. Gray would practice on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Quinault Reservation and a private practice clinic in Minot, North Dakota, before moving back to his homeland on the Flathead Reservation. Dr. Gray was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and enjoyed providing care for his people.
Kevin is survived by his children: Reajan, Carly, Paige and Shane; grandsons, Hawkins and Mission; siblings, Nathan, Sandra, Judy, Alicia, Richard and Leonard. Kevin also has numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on May 5, 2016.
