H. Allen Bray, age 82, of Maryville, passed away on October 6, 2026.

Allen was born in Morristown, where he attended public schools through Morristown High

School, now Morristown East, graduating in 1962. During those years, he developed an interest

in flying and took lessons from Evelyn Bryan Johnson in various aircraft. In his junior year of

high school, he began working at WMTN AM/FM radio. He continued working as an announcer

and engineer throughout college to pay his way through the University of Tennessee in

Knoxville, completing his Bachelor of Science degree in May 1967.

It was at UT that Allen met his wife, Gail Webb Bray of Maryville, daughter of the late Fern and

Grace Webb. Upon graduation, he entered Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland Air

Force Base in Texas and was commissioned in August 1967. Returning home on his initial leave,

Allen and Gail were married in September. They then reported to Keesler Air Force Base in

Mississippi, followed by Kincheloe Air Force Base in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

As a lieutenant, Allen was responsible for various secure communications networks and a depot

of classified codes and authentication materials, regularly supplying units at bases along the

Canadian border from the East Coast to the Pacific. In May 1971, Allen was discharged with the

rank of captain and returned to UT to attend law school, graduating in 1973.

Allen and Gail settled in the Maryville/Alcoa area, where he maintained a law practice

throughout his life. He served the City of Alcoa as Municipal Judge for more than 50 years, from

April 1974 through June 2023. In November 2022, Allen received the Honorable Sharon G. Lee

Award of Excellence from the Tennessee Municipal Judges' Conference in recognition of his

dedication and outstanding service.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Mary Kathern Bray, and his sister, Patsy

Brown.

He is survived by his beautiful wife of 60 years, Gail Webb Bray; his younger sister, Becky Bray

Smith, and her husband, Denny, of St. Augustine, Florida; many nieces, nephews, and their

children; and many members of the Webb family. He also leaves behind his very close friends,

Mike McMahan and Jenny Sellers, who were like a son and daughter to him and held a special

place in his heart.

The family will be having A Celebration of Life at Alcoa First United Methodist Church, 617 Gilbert Street Alcoa, TN on October 24th at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice in Allen’s memory. Arrangements made by Miller Funeral Home 915 W. Broadway Maryville, TN 37801.