Kelly Gray, 54, of Rochester, New Hampshire, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

She was born to David and Eleanor (Rogers) Bascom in Exeter, New Hampshire, on February 28, 1972. She grew up in Epping, attended Epping High School, and graduated as the salutatorian in 1990. She went on to attend Keene State College and graduated with degrees in geography and education in 1994.

Kelly married James “JT” Gray on August 10, 1996, and moved with him to his hometown of Rochester. Together, Kelly and JT built a life rooted in laughter, family, and unwavering love. They were proud “girl parents” to their daughters, Joelle and Allison, and together they taught their daughters to always stand up for what was right.

Kelly spent 33 years dedicated to the art of teaching and touched the lives of thousands of students. She believed every child deserved to feel seen, challenged, and capable, and her classroom became a place where students could discover their own voices. She spent most of her career teaching seventh grade geography at Rochester Middle School, but her last two years of teaching were as a junior high English teacher at Northwood School. She served as a mentor for young teachers throughout her career, both academically and personally.

She was a dedicated dance mom for both of her girls. After dancing as a child and watching her daughters dance, Kelly returned to the stage in 2014 at Studio 109. Though jazz was always her favorite, she learned to embrace tap, lyrical, and every new challenge — except a time step.

Kelly loved to read romance novels, complete 1,000-piece puzzles, visit artisan fairs, and try new restaurants. She loved root beer floats, Twizzlers, and candy cigarettes. She loved singing Cher, dancing to Duran Duran, and never missed a chance to watch Jason Momoa on screen. She was fiercely competitive, sarcastic, and a lover of life, even through hardships. She believed the world was meant to be explored, and she taught her daughters to navigate it with curiosity and confidence.

Kelly is survived by, and will be forever missed by, her daughter Joelle Hogan and husband Brian of Dover; daughter Allison Gray and fiancée Alyssa Foerster of Rochester; father and stepmother David and Jean Bascom of Epping; sister Kerry Poliquin of Exeter, sister Kiley York, husband Stephen, and children Matthew and Mackenzie of New Durham; stepbrother Shawn Poliquin of Eliot, ME; parents-in-law James P. and Joanne Gray of Rochester; sister-in-law Jennifer Kinville and husband Scot of Brookfield; brother-in-law Jonathan Gray and fiancée Angela Ribeiro of Mattapoisett, MA; sister-in-law Jessica Greco, husband Thomas, and children Evan and Kyle of Rochester; “bonus daughter” Paislee Garland of Charlotte, NC; dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins; and countless beloved friends. She also leaves behind her dearly cherished cat, Ellie.

Kelly was predeceased by her mother, Eleanor Bascom in 1989, and her soulmate and husband of 23 years, JT Gray, in 2019. She was also predeceased by all of her beloved grandparents and her Uncle George Bascom.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, August 3, 2026, from 1:00-3:00pm, followed by a funeral service at 3:00pm, at R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, Rochester, NH. A private burial with family will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Amy’s Treat in Kelly’s memory. (https://www.mygiving.net/donate/Amy-s-Treat-Donations) Amy’s Treat is a nonprofit dedicated to providing solutions to the day-to-day difficulties of living with cancer and offers unexpected “treats” to renew the spirit. Thanks to the generosity of Amy’s Treat, Kelly was able to spend the last week of her life creating memories with her family at Milton Three Ponds.

Kelly’s loved ones hope that sharing her story might encourage others to prioritize colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States, but early detection can save lives. Please consider getting screened in honor of Kelly's life and memory.