Ron "Stretch" Gregory Obituary (1944 - 2016)

Salt Lake City, UT ~ Stretch Gregory, 72, of West Jordan, Utah, passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2016. A viewing will be held Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah. A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming weeks TBD. Stretch was born October 1, 1944 in San Pedro, California. He spent his youth enjoying the Southern California weather and most of his time showing horses for the family's western store. He spent many weekends on the lower Colorado River near Parker, Arizona. He enjoyed the many local Southern California lakes and Long Beach Marine Stadium watching the boat races, which began his love of boats, and it became a passion later in life. Stretch was drafted into the Marine Corps, spent a tour in Vietnam, and came home with the rank of Corporal. In 1976, he moved from California to the Salt Lake Valley where he spent the next years working as a truck driver hauling cars, retiring after 36 years of driving under the Teamsters Union. It was in 1982 when Stretch made the decision that he wanted to go boat racing. He found a boat in Reno, purchased it, and spent the next 2 years assembling the boat with good friends to start his racing dream. Due to a back injury, Stretch's son began the driving duties, and his passion for the sport grew even more. Stretch spent 32 years in the sport of boat racing until his death. He loved the people of boat racing probably more than the racing itself. If stretch wasn't in the garage working on the boat, he enjoyed traveling with his wife and cousins, Jerry and Earlene Bloomquist. He also enjoyed trap shooting and fishing with his friends, as well as spending time with his children—especially his grandchildren. Ron is survived by his loving wife, Jo Ann Gregory; 2 sons, James Gregory and Cameron Candelaria and their wives, Jennifer and Britteny; 4 grandchildren, Jessica, Kambrie, Brecken and Kellen; and numerous friends he considered brothers; "adopted" sons and daughters; and half-sister, Patsy. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Gregory; and half-brother, James. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT