Obituary - Arey Wilson Grady Jr.

Arey Wilson Grady Jr. was born on October 9, 1949, in Goldsboro North Carolina to Arey Wilson Grady Sr. and Martha Ernestein Grady. He is now reunited with them in Heaven as with his sister Sue Mungo. He is survived by his loving (and patient) wife of 54 years, Mary Ann Grady, and his sons Arey Wilson Grady III and James “Punk” Grady and his wife Whitney Grady. Arey was a proud grandfather and was lovingly known to his five grandchildren, Sam, Ben, Thomas, Caroline, and Eliza as “Bud”. He is also survived by his sister Laura Cutherbertson and nephew Lee Percise and wife Megan Percise.

Arey graduated from Goldsboro High School and Durham Technical Institute, where he earned certification as a dental technician. He went on to own his own dental lab in 1977. Arey owned and operated Grady Dental Lab for close to 50 years. Arey won the Special Recognition Award from the North Carolina Dental Society in 2011, served as president of both the North Carolina Dental Lab Association and the Southeastern Conference of Dental Labs, earned the NC Dental Lab Merit Award, and was Chairman of the NC Missions of Mercy Committee. Missions of Mercy was a philanthropy close to his heart. Arey and Mary Ann participated in 54 clinics across the state over a 10-year period, serving the dental needs of underprivileged North Carolinians. In 2021, Arey was awarded the W.K. Morgan Distinguished Service Award in recognition of outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to the Fifth District Dental Society and the profession of dentistry.

Scouting was close to Arey’s heart. He was registered with Boy Scouts of America for over 45 years. He had 50 scouts to achieve the rank of Eagle under his leadership as Scoutmaster with Troup 41 in Kinston. He led scouts at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico three times. He was named the Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 2010 and was given the National Council Boy Scout of America Hall of Leadership Award in 2011. He was also the recipient of The Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition a Scout Council can bestow upon an adult volunteer leader.

Arey was a member of the Kinston Rotary Club and earned numerous Paul Harris Fellow awards. An avid outdoorsman, he was a proud, life sponsor of Ducks Unlimited. Arey was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine in May of 2014.

Bud loved his family, friends, beach music, boat rides, and a cold beer.

A service celebrating the life of Arey Grady will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kinston at 3 PM Sunday, May 4th.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to Arendell Parrott Academy, Scouting America, or Rainbow Methodist Church of Snow Hill, NC.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.taylor-tyson.com.