Howard K. Gray

Howard Kramer Gray On the evening of May 23rd 2016, Howard passed away peacefully in his home of natural causes. He was 88 years old. Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, May 31 - 6:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church - 2300 South West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105. Howard will be laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester, Minnesota at a later date. Arrangements by Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home. Howard Kramer Gray was born in Sayre, Pennsylvania to Howard Kramer Gray Sr. and Lila DeWeenta (Conrad) Gray on February 4, 1928. He attended Rochester High School, in Rochester Minnesota and Choate Boys School in Wallingford, Connecticut. After completing Banking and Finance coursework at New York University, NYC. - he earned his B.A. in Modern European History at Princeton University in New Jersey. Following college, Howard served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Howard served as Vice President, Corporate Finance - Lloyds Bank of California based in Los Angeles and Branch Banking for Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, CA. He was Country Director, U. S. Peace Corps Malawi and Sierra Leone, Africa. Howard served as Executive Director with Pathfinder International and since 1984, has been a Senior Consultant in International Development in Africa; Asia; SE Europe. With his extensive senior management experience, Howard consulted in more than thirty developing countries. Howard was a international nonprofit leader, oversaw elections in extremely demanding locations, crisis manager, corporate banker, diplomatic negotiator, and senior advisor to dozens of development endeavors. Howard took his international passion to the class room, lecturing and conducting presentations on the economic, political and social development primarily on sub-Saharan Africa and the Balkans, to students and faculty at a number of domestic and international High Schools, Colleges and Universities. After living in Boston for many years, Howard moved to Sioux Falls to be near family. Howard was currently serving on the First Presbyterian Church Finance Counsel and Stewardship Committee. Howard delighted in season tickets to the SD Symphony and in his daily routine with friends at Coffea Roasterie and Espresso Bar. For Howard, there was no such thing as "meeting a stranger" as he was deliberate in fostering his relationships locally and abroad. Howard is survived DeWeenta Bones (sister), nephews and nieces: Walter (Jan) Bones III, Steve (Sandra) Bones, Jim (Mary Pat) Bones, Judy (Tom) Grady, John (Kim) Bones, Susie (Jim) Lammers. Howard is preceded in death by his parents, a brother in law, Walter Bones, Jr., and a niece Catherine Bones VanHove. In lieu of flowers, condolences and memorials can be directed to Heritage Funeral Home - 4800 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57108