Birth Born on April 06, 1890 in Centreville, Shelburne Co., NS Death Died on February 08, 1992 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co., CA Buried in Santa Maria Cemetery District in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co., CA Marriages CONSTABLE, Zilla May Married on August 29, 1924 in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., CA Children McGRAY, Donald Herbert: June 07, 1925 - January 29, 1979 McGRAY, Bruce Arthur: November 02, 1929 - August 03, 2008 Notes Obituary: Santa Maria Times, February 10, 1992 Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary for Ralph N. McGray, 101, of Santa Maria who died Saturday in a local extended care center after a lengthy illness. Dr. Charles N. Gibbs, minister emeritus of the First Christian Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Santa Maria Cemetery. Mr. McGray was born in Centerville, Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was a pioneer contractor in California, holding one of the oldest active licenses in the state. He was instrumental in starting the licensing of contractors and served on many committees in getting it started. He homesteaded in the Dewberry area of Alberta, Canada, with his mother and two brothers in 1907, where they started farming. He moved to Taft in 1921 and worked in oilfield construction and other types of construction and in 1940, moved to Santa Maria, where he was instrumental in the building of the military installments in this area during World War II. He poured all the concrete used in Camp Cooke (Vandenberg Air Force Base) and Santa Maria Air Base (Santa Maria Airport). He was the contractor for most of the wharfs, piers and docks that have been built from Ventura to San Simeon. He did all the grading and paving for the Santa Maria Fairgrounds, Earl Warren Showgrounds and many of the school sites in Northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. He was instrumental in getting the Santa Maria Valley Contractors Association started and was the first chairman for the March of Dimes in Kern County. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 1990, at which time, the Contractors Licensing Board passed a resolution in honor of his service and to the contracting profession. The City of Santa Maria honored him for his service to the community and he received letters from a number of dignitaries. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Bruce A. and Virginia L. McGray, and daughter-in-law, Thelma McGray, all of Santa Maria; seven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Zilla M. McGray, in 1954; son, Donald H. McGray, in 1979; and brothers, Herbert McGray, in 1917, and Douglas McGray, in 1991. Friends may visit from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to Marian Medical Center, c/o "New Cardiovascular Wing," 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria, 93454, or Marian Extended Care Center, 1530 Cypress Way, Santa Maria, 93454. Occupation: Contractor Images Ralph McGray