Roll Call Tribute

George Robert Gray 

October 29, 1950 - January 6, 2026 

George Robert Gray, a devoted husband, loving father, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and man of unwavering integrity, passed on from this life into eternal glory at his home in Houston, Texas, on the evening of January 6, 2026.

George was born on October 29, 1950, the beloved son of the late John Laurence Gray and Nancy Ann Gray. He was raised on a cherished family farm in Decatur, Illinois, alongside his sister, Rebecca Susan Gray (preceded him in death).

Those early years were filled with many special memories, including treasured times spent growing up with his cousins, Peggy and Howard Loveless, memories he carried with him throughout his life. From his earliest years, George learned the values of hard work, humility, and perseverance-virtues that shaped every season of his life and defined the man he became.

In 1968, shortly after high school, George was appointed as a cadet and Port Security Man in the United States Coast Guard, serving aboard the USCGC Eagle-"The Tall Ship"-in Yorktown, Virginia. As part of a deployable specialized forces unit, his role focused on expeditionary security and anti-terrorism, reflecting his early commitment to courage, service, and the protection of others.

He later attended Odessa College and then went on to Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, George worked as a computer programmer for the university from 1973 to 1977, where he played a key role in replacing the VSAM Goldplate budget system with the IBM-IMS networked database system. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in 1976. Following graduation, George continued his service to the public by working at the Texas State Comptroller's Office in Austin, contributing to the statewide sales tax system.

In 1983, George began a distinguished career at Lockheed Martin, where he contributed to the Command Support Programs (CSP) and supported the Tomahawk Cruise Missile system, the Over-the-Horizon (OTH) system for the Tactical Flag Command Center (TFCC), and several other critical defense initiatives. During a special year-long assignment in California, God orchestrated a meeting that would forever change his life. George met the love of his life, Shaheen, and also received the precious gift of a beloved step-daughter, Mahreen, whom he loved and cherished as his own. George and Shaheen were married on Catalina Island on April 8, 1988, beginning a beautiful marriage that spanned 37 years. Together, they modeled Christ-centered love, faithfulness, and devotion, inspiring countless couples through their example.

George and Shaheen shared a deep passion for global missions and the advancement of God's Kingdom. They faithfully invested their time and resources into mission work, with a special calling toward Pakistan, where they supported church plants and water wells that brought both spiritual hope and physical provision to countless lives.

In 1990, George joined BMC Software as a Product Development Author, where he served faithfully for the next 36 years. His work included critical projects such as Application Restart Control and Restart Advisor, helping automate and manage application, agent, and batch job restarts to preserve data integrity, efficiency, and system reliability. George was widely known for his diligence, excellence, and leadership, often serving as a trusted liaison between teams in India and the United States. His colleagues respected him not only for his technical expertise, but even more for his kindness, humility, and integrity.

For over 23 years, George was a devoted member of Victory Christian Center, where he faithfully worshiped and walked in fellowship with the body of Christ.

Above all else, George was a man who loved the Lord with his whole heart. His faith was not merely professed, but lived-evident in his generosity, quiet strength, unwavering commitment to truth, and Christlike love for others. He was a devoted husband and father who would do anything for his family, and a rare believer who embodied the teachings of Scripture in everyday life. To know George was to be encouraged and strengthened in faith. He truly ran his race well and finished it faithfully.

George is survived by his beloved wife, Shaheen Gray, and his cherished daughter, Mahreen Shamim.