It with a very heavy heart I write this but Sonnie Gray (Catskinner) passed away yesterday in Texas,he was a close and dear friend.He was a remarkable human being compassionate and caring he was my hero in life I will truly miss my friend RIP Sonnie
When you messaged me my heart sunk. He was a great guy and would help anyone. He will be missed, that's for sure.
RIP my friend!
:'(
Oh Man this is sad news! He was one of the good ones! RIP Sonny. Prayers and condolences to all his friends and family :(
Sure Sorry to hear this...Sonny was a good guy...
Sadness. He was on my list of "must meet" people. His influence on the bus community goes further than he will ever know...
Just remember smoking rear tires and smile... Someone who we will really miss..rdw
Very sorry to hear this. I only met him once and that was an honor. Rest in peace Sonnie
Rick
My condolences to his family, and you and his other friends. I will always think of you, Sonnie, and Mike, while sitting around a busin' campfire, for the help you guys gave Deb and I while on the road. Our bus community has lost a great one. RIP Sonnie!
Not that many people around that would bring a friend a 3rd member for a Eagle 1200 miles for a homemade hamburger he was 1 in a million
I have a deep hole inside my heart as Sonnie truly was one of those people you looked up to for guidance, friendship and compassion. Dam, I miss you buddy, just talked to you last week and had no idea that would be the last time. Safe journey to be with Patti, see you again one day.
Gary
I never met Sonnie but he sure sounds like a good one from all your comments. Sorry for your loss. Craig
Sonnie was a real Bus Nut, not asking for anything but always ready to give a helping hand. We lost one of the good ones.
Jack
Life is short he was fine last week laughing and joking really happy with his new life, his stent he got about 7 or 8 years back was giving him problems but he thought the new medications would cure it.
When Mike gets more details he will let us know he is headed for TX to pickup the bus and Sonnies belongings,it tough on Mike and Brenda so I am not bothering them with phone calls he will let me know
So sorry to hear this! Wow it's hard to comprehend him being gone. But as sad as it is he can now be with Patti again.
RIP Sonny!
:( BK :'(
So sorry to hear. RIP Sonnie
Sorry for the loss, Prayers from Donald and Deborah.
This is a shock. He was a great human being and a great mechanic too. Life was not the same for him without Patti, they can be united now. Sad, sad, sad.
Sonnie "Rest In Peace"
Oh dear. . . :'( :'( :'( :'(
I'm so sorry to hear. I only had the chance to meet Sonny once, regret that I didn't get to know him better. I'm in the Dallas area, so if the family needs help with anything in North Texas, please let me know.
Arthur
Karen and I enjoyed meeting Sonnie. I think of him carrying his little dog zipped up in his jacket. Great guy!!
I only met Sonnie once in Quartzsite but I felt like I knew him better through all of you who did know him well. Sorry to hear he is gone. I'm about 95% sure this is the right engine bay but if I'm wrong will someone who knows better please let me know & I will take the picture down.
That is it Bob the 350 hp 3406 :D
I am really sorry to hear that. I never met Sonnie, but he sounded like a great guy! Condolences to his family.
Sonnie and Little Bit at our Texas Bus Roundup a few years back. RIP my friend!
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi363.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Foo78%2FDreamscape_Eagle%2FSonnie%2520and%2520Little%2520Bit_zpsrlrlupxy.jpg&hash=b8099905f75a7973f19850963b384fd03dc984ae) (http://s363.photobucket.com/user/Dreamscape_Eagle/media/Sonnie%20and%20Little%20Bit_zpsrlrlupxy.jpg.html)
We're very sorry to hear this. Sonnie was special!
Joe & Frankie
We didn't know Sonnie, but our prayers and thoughts are with his Family.
May he rest in peace....................
Mike and Lori
Sonnie came to one of my rallies up in Union City an was one of the first to arrive.
He pulled in set the brakes and asked "What can I do to help?"
From that moment on it was like we'd been best friends forever!
He never moved his bus from that first spot and helped get others parked while I handled other things like running our charter business getting drivers out an gone, phone calls and etc.
Funniest part of all of it was I was on the phone with a customer when Don Fairchild came rolling in.
We had parked a couple GM's across the drive from the shop in the "front yard of the house" the day before and being they were fairly light and had parked before it rained a monsoon over night we'd had no problem parking them there.
So while I was on the phone Don an Sonnie decided that Don should unhook his towed an back in beside them.
I couldn't get to the shop fast enough when I saw what they were doing and as soon as Don's drive tires were off the gravel the whole back of his coach was sitting on the ground! Drive tires were sunk half way to CHINA.
As I came running up they were already looking an laughing at what they'd done.
Sonnie was telling me call whoever has a big enough wrecker to pull it out an I'll pay for it since I'm the one who guided him in there.
I told them no we'd hook "Mater" (my one ton Holmes 1200 wrecker) to it an pull it out.
By then all of them were rolling on the ground laughing at me.
I told 'm go ahead an laugh but you just watch "Mater" do his job.
So I pulled out both cables put a snatch block on each line and ran it back to the wrecker, threw down my over sized chock blocks and chained them to the anchor points on the bed and started winching. The winches were pulling strong and were dragging the truck across the drive plowing it up with the chock blocks as it went. So I pulled up my S217 to the front of "Mater", put the tow bar in place in the front bumper mounts on the bus and chained "Mater" off to it! Back to winching again Don's came on out SLOW but sure!
We all laughed at Don's expense but not harm was done and we had fun doing it.
Sonnie went on to finish parking folks and whatever came up he was needed for the rest of the weekend.
I was in seventh heaven when we finally got time for him to show me his work of art with the installation of the CAT engine and custom drive/tag axle combination complete with air bag suspension and the ability to actually raise his tag off the ground if needed!
Next time I saw Sonnie was in Arcadia and he and some others were up under another busnut's coach helping make roadside repairs!
Sonnie was a great guy and was always willing to do ANYTHING he could to help ANYONE he could!
He'll truly be missed.
BK
Yes BK that was a great bunch at the rally.
Seems like they are fewer than ever of us still around.
Sonnie was always helping every one great guy and a great bunch of bus nuts.
Maybe devils personal joke
uncle ned
From Sonnie's daughter:
For those of you planning to attend the memorial service for my dad:
Saturday, October 10th
4:00 p.m.
Rusty Barn at the Ranch
8263 County Road 209
Celina, TX 75009
(Reception immediately following service)
Attire: Casual