Michael Edward Gray

Gray, Michael Edward - age 64, died peacefully on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at home, surrounded by his loving family, after a 15-month battle with a glioblastoma brain tumor. Michael was a devoted husband, father, brother, friend, and business owner. It was evident to all how deeply he cared for and how well he loved his family and friends. He will be remembered for being a true gentleman, a dedicated businessman, true to his word, and always treating others with respect. He was known for being a planner, his generosity, and a great sense of humor, including the ability to laugh at himself. He enjoyed music from an array of different genres and loved an opportunity to dance. Born February 1, 1961, in Knoxville, he graduated from Farragut High School in 1979 and was an honors graduate from the University of Tennessee, with a degree in Accounting. He was a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and later served as Chapter Advisor for many years, making lasting friendships with many of the active brothers along the way. He was a member of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and assisted with teaching Sunday School. After graduation, Michael began his career at Valley Fidelity Bank in the Trust Department, then later worked at First American Bank in Private Banking. In 1985, while continuing his work in banking, he began his mission to eventually start his own business. He and his friend David Schmid started Knoxville Payphone and Vending and began installing pay phones at Pilot convenience stores, eventually growing the business to include locations at Regal Cinemas and convenience stores all across the US. In 1989, he bought out his original partner, left banking, and began running his payphone business full-time. Michael mentored many young college students who worked for him, including his eventual business partner, fraternity brother, and best friend, Bill DuPree, who joined him in business in 1994. In 2012, when payphones became obsolete, Michael and Bill founded KPV Enterprises, pivoting their business model to air and vacuum machines at convenience stores, including Weigel’s, and numerous other stores, eventually growing to over 1000 locations throughout the southeastern US. In April 2002, Michael married the love of his life, Annemarie Coughlin, and became a loving stepfather to her three young children, Megan, Will, and John. In 2004, Michael and Annemarie welcomed a daughter together, Mary Lindley, whom he adored and who quickly became the light of his life. Michael was predeceased by his parents, John William and Frances Carden Gray, brother John Gray, and sister-in-law, Mary Louise Coughlin Dubay. He is survived by his wife: Annemarie Coughlin Gray, children: Mary Lindley Gray, John McClamroch (Salt Lake City, UT), Will McClamroch (Denver, CO), and Megan McClamroch (fiancé John Cho), sister: Jennifer Carter (Robert), nephew: Gray Carter (Lucy), and niece: Molly Carter, aunt: Sue Gray Walker, mother-in-law: Ruth Coughlin, brothers-in-law: Dennis Coughlin (Cindy), Steven Coughlin, Mark Coughlin, also several cousins, nieces, and nephews, and many close friends. A celebration of life service will be held at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, 3700 Keowee Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37919, on Tuesday, March 25th at 4 p.m. The family will receive friends afterward at SHPC Barron Hall. In place of flowers, the family asks for memorial gifts to be made to SHPC (sequoyahchurch.org), Lakeshore Park (lakeshoreparkknoxville.org), Mobile Meals (knoxseniors.org), AGAPE (agapeoutreachhomes.org), or a charity of your choice.

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Michael Edward Gray

February 1, 1961 - March 9, 2025