Kathy Michelle Gray
Kathy Michelle Gray, 69, of Ormond Beach, passed away on January 14, 2024. She was born in Orlando on October 10, 1954. Kathy graduated from Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Ft Myers and graduated from the Citadel in 1976 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. She was honored her senior year by the Civil Engineering Department with the George Walker White Award. Upon graduation, she became a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Navy. She served on active duty for four years as a Civil Engineer Corps officer at Naval Air Stations in Texas and Louisiana. After 16 years in the Reserves, she retired as a Lt Commander.
Kathy began her career as a Geotechnical Engineer in 1980. She was a private consultant for over eight years before going to work for the Florida Department of Transportation. She retired from FDOT in 2017 as the District Geotechnical Engineer for District Five. As an expert on Florida’s unique sinkhole activity, she authored a paper published in the American Society of Civil Engineering Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. After she retired, she was honored by the Florida Engineering Society’s Geotechnical and Materials Engineers Council (GMEC) for outstanding service to the profession. She enjoyed mentoring and sharing her vast knowledge with her many colleagues.
Well known in the local tennis community, Kathy was an avid tennis player and captained several league teams. She was a volunteer tennis coach for Bethune-Cookman University. For many years she was licensed by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association to give lessons as an Elite Professional. She was also a board member and president of the Florida Tennis Center Foundation Kathy volunteered with the Volusia Literacy Council and the Halifax Humane Society.
Kathy is survived by three nieces, four nephews and her cat, Marie. During her lifetime, Kathy accomplished many things and was a good friend. She had a kind, compassionate heart and believed in the power of respect. Her courage to be true to herself and take a path less followed was an inspiration to others. Her memory will live on with the Kathy M. Gray Legacy Trust, a charitable trust to support medical research, tennis programs, the homeless and tree planting. Arrangements handled by Lankford Funeral Deland with burial at Greenwood Cemetery.
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