Bret McCray

Bret Darin McCray lost his fight with cancer on August 28, 2025, with his wife and kids by his side. He was born on November 5, 1964 in Salt Lake City, UT, to Cecil Ray McCray and Julie Ann (Camomile) McCray.

Bret was a man of few words, a big heart and lots of love. His family was his world. Bret will be missed by his wife, Robin Browne McCray, his children Shellise Ann McCray, Jessie James McCray, (Kim Navarez) Amber Dawn Wills and Jessie Jade Wills, his only grandson Lane J McCray, who was his pride and joy. His parents, siblings Jana McCray, Terry McCray (Tracey Koos), Scott McCray (Diane Williams), brother-in-law Richard Browne,(Debbie Browne) sister-in-law Dawn Barrier (Mark Barrier), aunts, uncles, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and many cousins.

Bret was preceded in death by his step-mother Charlien (Charlie) McCray, father-in-law Paul Warren Browne Jr., mother-in-law Jessie Shirley Browne, nephew Cody Ray McCray, his grandparents Lawrence and Jane Camomile, Hubert McCray and Esther Buckallew McCray.

Bret grew up in Rose Park, UT (now Fairpark). He graduated from West High School in 1983. His mother remembers the day in 1983 when Bret walked in from school and told her he had joined the Utah Air National Guard. Bret traveled the world with the US Air Force fighting for our freedom on the front lines as an Aviation Specialist. Bret Served his country from 1983 to 2010 in the Utah National Guard, 109th Air Control Squadron, while working for the Federal Aviation Administration as a Radar Technician in Cedar City, UT. He was called to active duty after 9/11 and fulfilled his obligation in the United States Air Force, having been called to active duty overseas multiple times. Bret loved his jobs and the people he worked with. Bret studied Electronics at CCAF. Bret was of undocumented Cherokee Nation decent. He was learning about indigenous culture from a co-worker. Bret retired from the FAA, in May 2025.

The extended family would like to thank Bret’s wife, Robin, son Jessie, daughter-in-law Kim and daughter Amber for taking care of Bret. Robin has been his caretaker and kept the family informed of all the doctor appointments, hospice visits and anything else the family needed to know. We love you all and we are so grateful you could be with Bret through his battle with cancer.

We would also like to thank the nurses, aids, volunteers, doctors, and social workers with the hospice company Zions Way. We appreciate you caring for Bret the way you did and helping Robin with everything she needed.

Thank you so much to the St George Cancer Center, Dr. Steven R Grant, Ryan E Wilcox and the many nurses.