Obituary of David Jeffery Dray

David Jeffery Dray, 67, from Tacoma, WA, suddenly passed away from heart complications while on duty as a TSA Officer at Sea-Tac Airport on March 17, 2024.

David was the second born to Judy and Earl Dray on February 5, 1957, in Crystal Falls, MI. After graduating from Norway High School, in Norway MI in 1975, David joined the U.S Army. Shortly after, he was stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea, where he met and married his first wife, Chong Kyu, in February of 1979. Together they had two children, Sarah and Alan.

While serving in the Army, David was a Military Police Officer with the 2nd Infantry Division. He finished his military career in September of 1992 as a CID Agent at Fort Lewis, WA. During his time at Ft. Lewis, he was also a Youth Pastor at Tacoma First Baptist Church where he led worship, singing and playing the guitar, which is something he loved to do.

David remarried in August of 2013, to Elizabeth Jubera, where he gained a stepson, Gavin Rutherford, and a stepdaughter, Sharadawn Reith and her two children, Elina and Marine.

David was a strong, but quiet man, an observer of people and the world around him. He was an avid reader who loved to learn about history, the Bible, and anything about General Patton. He was a Christian man who loved God, his family, and his country. He believed his purpose in life was to protect those who could not protect themselves. He had the heart and soul of a warrior. He loved the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Red Wings, John Wayne movies and the 2nd Amendment.

David was survived by his wife Elizabeth Jubera; his son and daughter-in-law Alan and Tera Dray and their three children Jaxon, Presley, and Wren; his daughter Sarah and son-in-law Travis Trumbull and their children, Whitney, Anthony, Kenzie and Katelynn; his sisters Cathy VandenHeuvel, Carole Dray Sihilling, and Julie Dray Melotte; and his brother Dennis Dray. He will be missed tremendously and will be loved for eternity. We find comfort in knowing he’s at peace and with the Lord now and will be watching over us all from heaven. We love you so much, Dad.

From the bottom of our hearts, the Dray family would like to thank the TSA Officers, the First Responders, and everyone at Sea-Tac Airport who did everything they could to help save David. We will forever be grateful.

David’s wishes were to be cremated and he did not want a funeral service. Please feel free to pay your respects and/or leave any last words or stories of him here.