Tragic death memorialized at fair

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It will be impossible for the family and friends of Devon Patrick Gray to ever view the Wood County Fair
in the same way again. The young man’s tragic death in April 2013 was deeply felt at last year’s fair.
This year his presence will remain a part of the yearly event.
The 15-year-old Otsego High School freshman died as the result of an ATV accident. The fair board
approved a family member to show his goat at last year’s livestock sale. Gray was a member of the Beaver
Creek Boosters 4-H Club and the Otsego FFA. His brother, Benjamin Gray, showed Devon’s goat in memory of
his brother at the annual livestock sale.
The bid for the goat reached $2,600 and that money and countless other donations resulted in a memorial
donation to the goat department of nearly $5,000.
That donation allowed the goat department to purchase 12 new goat pens for their barn at the fair.
The Grand Rapids resident was the son of John and Jane Gray. In addition to the donation a memorial brick
has been approved for installation to memorialize Devon near the Livestock Exhibition Barn, commonly
called the Champion Barn.
Many youth wore T-shirts throughout the week at the 2013 fair in remembrance of the talented and
well-liked young man who was a true champion of people.
Goat department chairman Nancy Aurand said, “This donation to the goat department is bittersweet. Every
year I sweat over whether there will be enough goat pens to accommodate the growing number of goat
projects and what hurdles may lie ahead during fair week.”
She added, “And then the goat department receives this very generous donation from the Gray family to
allow the Wood County Fair Board to purchase badly needed goat pens.”
Aurand concluded, “Forever will the goat department be grateful to the Gray family for their donation in
memory of their loved one Devon. … as I said before, it is bittersweet.”
In addition to his fair-related activities, Devon was on the honor roll and played football and
basketball.
He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Ohio where he was a server.
His published obituary called the young man “a fun-loving, outgoing and caring person with the best sense
of humor. He was the best son and brother anyone could ask for.”
In addition to the money donated to the fair, the family also has established a scholarship fund in his
memory through Otsego High School.
The Gray family remembers
When contacted for this story, his parents responded as follows:
“For Devon 4-H was more than work and a project. He loved being involved, working with his goat and
meeting new people. It was something he truly enjoyed. Devon had a real passion for life and when it
came to learning he jumped at the opportunity when it arose, especially when his friends were involved.
He would have been a camp counselor last year, and was so excited about helping others to learn. He
would be proud and honored to know such a generous gift of money was donated to improve the goat barn in
his honor.
Our family is so proud of our son and the young gentlemen he was becoming. We feel blessed, humbled and
thankful to the Wood County Fair community who so generously donated to this fund. We will know someday
why the circumstances are the way they are …. but until then we trust and believe there is a plan.
There are amazing people out there and this is a testament to this …. Because of these special
individuals upgrades were made to the goat barn which will help the 4-H kids and their goats. We are all
fortunate and happy that the children and their goats will benefit from these monies.
A big thank you to all of you sincere, wonderful people. We just want to let you know how appreciative we
are and thank you for being a part of Devon’s memory.
God Bless you all!”

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