Obituary of Aaron Jacob Gray

Aaron Jacob Gray, 25, of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away on January 9, 2019. Aaron was born in Farmington, New Mexico on February 23,1993. He lived the majority of his childhood in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Growing up, Aaron enjoyed playing baseball, making music with his friends, and was an avid and fearless skateboarder.�He was also an excellent student who was full of potential. He graduated from Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Tennessee in 2011.�Aaron was an amazing person. He was passionate throughout his life. He was kind-hearted, genuine, and friendly.� He loved his family and friends and would do anything for them. He had a laugh that made you laugh and a smile that made you smile. He was funny, curious, and adventurous, and would accept nearly any challenge. Aaron's biggest passion was to get a home so that he could spend more time with his daughter, Scarlett.�As an adult, Aaron moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to be reunited with his father and brothers on his father's side. One of Aaron's brothers, Rick Gray, remembers Aaron's confidence and the way he carried himself. Recalling the first time they reconnected he says, "I'll never forget the smile Aaron had on his face when we met a few years ago, as he was walking off the plane. It's like we had been together forever...we love our brother and he will be missed dearly. RIP little bro."Aaron's oldest brother, Ryan, says, "We only just reconnected recently but we have always known Aaron, my second youngest brother and uncle to my two boys, who acted as if he was always there for them. It's hard to say a lot with the time we had, but I can say he fit right in from the time he moved to Colorado a few years ago. His heart was so big and full of love. He will be missed so much by us and never forgotten. I love you so much Aaron. I know you're always there as you always have been growing up as brothers, far apart but close in thought."Aaron's father, Richard, is thankful for the years of having had all of his boys together and recalls with pride how easily they all just fit when they were together. He will remember Aaron's clever sense of humor and his honesty, playing video games and watching rap battles together, listening to music and clowning around with one another. He would like to add, "I miss him. I wish we had more time together. I'm grateful we got to hug and say I love you not long before he left. I hope he rests in peace and we'll be together in the next lifetime."Aaron's brother, Isaac, remembers that Aaron was always a bigger brother and that they had their moments of dislike, but Aaron showed him how to be a man, how to be tough, and how to hold his own. "He played his big brother role and taught me so many lessons he probably never thought he was teaching me. I always looked up to Aaron as someone I wanted to be. Someone who is confident, creative, and ambitious."Aaron left us much too soon, but we can take comfort in knowing that he will rest beside one of his most favorite people, his Uncle Dave. He will remain loved and be missed immensely by those of us he left behind, and because of the gift we were given - the gift of our memories of him, he will never be forgotten.Aaron was preceded in death by his grandfather, Claude Anthony Pickell; grandfather, Richard Minor Mahan; grandmother, Ute Ruvolo and her husband Ron; and uncle, David Benjamin Pickell.Aaron is survived by his mother, Sarah Jane Pickell and his father, Richard Alan Gray, both of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his step-father, Jovan Fedelino Trujillo of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; his daughter, Scarlett Aaliyah Gray and her mother, Taleah Rozear; seven brothers, Ryan Gray, Isaiah Gray, Rick Gray and Mikey (Jenny) Robertson, all of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Devin Gray of Florida, Dominick Trujillo of Franklin, Tennessee and Isaac Trujillo of Murfreesboro Tennessee; grandparents, Robert and Kathryn Smith of Palm Bay Florida, Anna Marie Mahan of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Mike Trujillo of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Rodney and Carolyn Gray of Fountain, Colorado; one uncle, Ryan Anthony Pickell and his wife and aunt to Aaron, Kimberly Ann Pickell, both of Smyrna, Tennessee; two aunts, Joyce Fafard and Sandy Gray Romero, both of Rio Ranco, New Mexico; cousins, Amber Aguon, Silas Pickell, Benjamin Pickell, Layla Pickell and Emily Pickell; and many extended family members and friends.Interment, Rose Hill Memorial Gardens, 4758 New Manchester Highway, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388.