Brian Neil Gray
03/03/1963 – 05/03/2026
Our darling Brian went to be with Jesus, suddenly at home, aged 63.
Dearly loving husband of Imogen and a loving father of Haley, Taylor, Vincent, Jeremy, Quinn,
Darcy, Ida, Marnina, Silas, Layne and Mary.
Those who knew Brian are welcome to join us at 224 Rarangi Beach Road, RD3, Blenheim 7273 on
Friday 13 March from 4pm to celebrate his life with food, drink & stories.
Please bring a plate of food to share. Brian's tradition was scruffy.
Messages to the Gray family c/- PO Box 9 Blenheim 7240 or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz
"I am just a simple man, working on the land;
I am just a simple man, working with my hands."
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
CLOUDY BAY FUNERAL SERVICES BLENHEIM F.D.A.N.Z.
Service Details
224 Rarangi Beach Road
Blenheim
Friday 13 March 2026
From 4pm
From - Dean Drummond
A friend of mine in Waikawa Bay rang me last week with the sad and devastating news of Bri’s passing over.
Brian was - and still is - my brother in law. My heartfelt condolences to all the family who I hope can take comfort in knowing Brian, headstrong and gentle, loved you all, “scruffy” or otherwise and would want nothing less than you all to be happy. I’m told time heals. I used to kick around with Brian a lot in the RNZAF days, and after in the land of Oz, sharing in the adventures we had together - many and memorable. I’d like to scratch the surface a bit and share a few stories in the spirit of remembering my friend who I wont see now, till I come home too as once again my bro-in-law beat me in the race to join our Father. As Bri’ would often say “Hey man - don’t spill the beans” … sorry man but here’s goes…
Bri held a bachelor of Chinese medicine he rightly earned at Ann St college of Medicine in Brisbane from 1987 onward, which often I would sit in (the free classes anyway) and learn a bit too. He took to it like a duck to water and we’d often practice sticking acupuncture needles in ourselves and each other and learning the Chinese Medical Lingo. He excelled at this - I didn’t. Eventually he banned me from using him as a ‘pin-cushion’ as I once was responsible for him having to sit on the toilet for hours giving him diarrhea of sorts … no more practice on Bri’... we both used to busk in Cuba mall, Brisbane till all hours of the morning - I’d join him after a night job in high-rise buildings and we’d belt our tunes out at separate spots … He was in his element, that's for sure. I still play the "simple man" from Bad Co:
and other tracks we used to dig Bri -
Bri’ used to truck his border collie dog he called “mate” round in a sidecar fixed to a Honda 350 (went from Rarangi beach to Mosgeil Dunedin once) - and his van later on when he was posted to Woodbourne ARS air base. … I can still see him in that goofy headset he had … managed to wedge his early 70's Triumph Pi into off-shore reefs after leaving the road a little way from Kaikoura - tow truck with crane to boot to get it out - Bri told me he was listening to "High n' Dry" a Def Leppard album on his tape deck as it slowly wound down filling up with water glad I wasn't with him that run, as we used to head that way a lot ... while scuba diving out on the point at Whites Bay (up the hill n' along from Rarangi) I speared a huge octopus n' got towed round in a sea of black ink from a wounded 'Occky' which Bri thought was hilarious, till we hauled it out onto rock shelving n' it got second wind, sending a tentacle or six his way catching a bare top half n' leaving sucker marks till he got the arms off him (had to cut some myself) - Watching him trying to jump round was one of the funniest things I've ever seen (sorry Bri) … we used to visit the Ch-Ch central city square back in the early 80’s and browse around and listen to the “Wizard” on his ladder offer zany and impactful speeches which Bri found amusing and once got to close to the “Birdman” (those who don’t know about the birdman, he was a character who would walk round in a raincoat with pigeons all over him) He’d have arms extended, while pigeons made a ‘bee-line for him, covering him - and Bri with bird poop when he tried to talk to the dude while he was covered in birds… some of the many stories we made together bro’. You will be remembered.
Lastly is an apology to you all for not stopping in at the 'shack' in Rarangi during my Waikawa Bay time, but hadn't realized you had bought into the area you had rented while at Woodbourne. Remain in light bro’. Peace be with you all.
Dean
