James Dwight Gracey, Sr.

Dr. James Dwight Gracey, Sr., 82, of Dayton passed away on February 21, 2022, in Houston, Texas. Dr. Gracey was born March 17, 1939, in Baytown, Texas to parents, William Driskell Gracey and Minnie Lena Lange Gracey.

He grew up on a dairy farm in the small country town of Crosby, Texas where he attended elementary and junior high school. James graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1957 Baytown, Texas and continued his education at the University of Houston where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1968. He then attended medical school at the University of Autonoma de Guadalajara from 1969 until 1973. Dr. Gracey served his medical internship including Chief Medical Intern at Pasqua Hospital, Regina, Saskatchewan from 1973 until 1975. He was a General Practitioner Physician in Meridian, Mississippi from 1975 until 1986. He served in the United States Navy from 1958 until 1962 aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Forrestal. He learned the trade of electrician, obtaining the rank of E-5.

Dr. Gracey was a Sunday School Teacher in Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. He taught Royal Ambassador (RA), was a softball coach to four teams, coached Little League Football and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was very active in the Lions Club in Crosby and in Dayton. James was a member of the Republican National Party of Texas, the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association and Duck Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl. He was a member of the American Legion-Crosby, Crosby Historical Society, Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, National Law Enforcement Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, State Troopers Association, Meals on Wheels in Dayton, Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, Toast Master Club and Masonic Lodge. Dr. Gracey was an active member of the Journey Fellowship Church in Dayton.

James was preceded by his parents. He is survived by his children, Julie Sitzman-McKinzey and husband Kyle of Arlington, Texas, Tanya Gracey Adams and husband Michael of Bryant, Arkansas, James Dwight Gracey and wife Rhian of Mill Valley, California, Lisa Gracey Hall and husband Jon of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland; his grandchildren, Jacqueline and Joey Sitzman, Carter Smith and wife Alyssa, Blake Smith, Austin, Will, Gage, and Jack Gracey, Jackson and Davis Hall; great-granddaughter, Peyton Origlio; his sisters, Brenda Gracey Tuttle and husband Jerry of Dayton and Sandra Gracey Ballinger and husband Jack of Dayton; also numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 26, 2022, at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton, Texas with Rev. Howie Howeth officiating. Interment will follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m.

For those who desire memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to Journey Church c/o the Building Fund Ministry which he helped to start and was very passionate about. Journey Fellowship Church, 505 Ripkowski Dr., Dayton, Texas 77535 https://journeydayton.churchcenter.com/giving