William Alfred 'Bill'

Gray, Jr.

GRAY – KENNEBUNK – William Alfred “Bill” Gray, Jr. 91 and a half, died November 10, 2026, after a year of declining health in a Biddeford hospital. He was born April 2, 1935, in Portland, the son of the late William A. and Phyllis (Gribben) Gray.

Bill attended Portland schools and completed correspondence courses as a teen. He began working to help his family at 16 years old as a bellhop downtown. He always said this was where he learned the most about people. As a young adult he began a 38- year career at Central Maine Power Company. Bill started as a meter reader, then quickly advanced to the Personell Department. He became the District Operations Assistant and supported customer service, interviewing, and hiring for decades. In 1957, Bill was introduced to Alice Conlogue on a blind date and they married in 1958. They settled in Portland, raised a family of 3 children and were happily involved with their friends and activities.

Bill was known for his positive attitude, mild manners, and his ability to connect with people very easily. He had a talent for creating funny jokes and sharing them with comedic and timely delivery. Fortunately he wrote hundreds of his one-liners on index cards. His passion was collecting baseball cards, vinyl records, autographs, and all things entertainment. He was often known for carrying a tape recorder to interview people and could be found playing the DJ role with friends, using reel-to-reel, cassette recorders, and record players. Jazz music was his favorite genre and he enjoyed listening to Big Band era tunes. Bill could be found watching New England sports, the news, old Westerns on tv, and enjoying family and neighbors visiting. He was a caregiver, honest, loyal, hard-working and sole family provider. He was a very good listener, and he kept a sharp mind his entire life. He never joined the digital world and liked it that way. Bill was proud that he drove until 90 years old and impressively never had an “at fault” accident.

In addition to his parents, infant brother Robert, and his only cousin Deborah Russel, he was predeceased by his wife, Alice (Conlogue) of 56 years. Surviving are his daughter Kim and husband Greg Bickel of Portland, his son John Gray of Gorham and recently Kennebunk, his daughter Stacey Gray of Kennebunk; 3 grandchildren, Christopher Bickel and fiancé Kayla Warren of Biddeford, Ryan Bickel of Portland, and Holden and wife Sage Scott of Porter; 2 great-grandchildren Elizabeth and William Bickel; brother in law Fred and wife Sandra Conlogue, sister-in-law Norma Conlogue and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the dear friends and neighbors for their kindness, encouragement and support throughout Bill’s declining health. Being well thought of and remembered were important to him, and he was surrounded by wonderful humans and animals throughout his life. Bill was well-loved and will be missed greatly.

There will be a Celebration of Life held at 47 Patio Park Lane in Gorham, Maine on November 29, 2026 from 12 – 5pm. Internment will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth, Maine in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk or the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland -Maine Animal Shelter.