Kevin John Gravois of Huntsville, Alabama

October 8, 1939 - January 22, 2024

Kevin John Gravois, 84, a resident of Huntsville, Alabama, died peacefully on January 22, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, after suffering severe complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  A beloved father of three and grandfather of five, Kevin was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Joyce Ann Thibault Gravois, who died on August 11, 2017, both his parents and his younger brother Ross Anthony Gravois Jr. of Plaquemine, Louisiana.

Kevin was born on October 8, 1939, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana to Reine Marie Chauvin and Ross Anthony Gravois and spent most of his youth in Baton Rouge, where he graduated from Catholic High School in 1957.  He then enrolled as an electrical engineering student at Louisiana State University where he joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC and LSU marching band. Following his graduation in 1962, Kevin was sent to serve in both Reykjavik, Iceland and Boston, Massachusetts—a far cry from the familiar heat and humidity of Louisiana.

After completing his service and subsequent honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force as a first lieutenant, Kevin moved to Houston, Texas to work on NASA’s mission to put man on the moon. That’s where he met and married his wife Joyce on August 16, 1968.  Not only did Kevin help put man on the moon, but he also earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom—the highest civilian honor—for helping to rescue the crew of Apollo 13.

Kevin and Joyce moved their family to Shelburne, Vermont in 1978, which was a culture shock to everyone but Joyce, who grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York. In the winter of 1984, Kevin finally tired of the snow and declared the family would be moving back to the South. Within months, the family, which included two horses, two cats and three children, relocated to Crestview, Florida, where Kevin and Joyce remained until her death in 2017.

Kevin led a life of humble service, coaching his children and others in both football and softball and serving as a volunteer firefighter. Kevin also played several instruments, including the guitar, and sparked a love of music in all his children. He will be remembered for his humility, kindness, and generosity in helping those who needed support.

Kevin finished his career working for the U.S. Department of Defense and two defense contractors at Eglin Air Force Base where he focused on munitions for both the AC-130 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.  His work enabled him to travel the world and to bring back all sorts of treasures to his family, not the least of which was a sense of wonder for all the world has to offer those curious enough to seek adventures.

A lifelong LSU football fan, Kevin sent two of his children to LSU and attended football games as often as he could.  After Joyce’s death, Kevin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, so his children helped him and his faithful and constant companion Derby dog, move to Huntsville, Alabama to be closer to them.

Kevin is survived by his children Karen Anne Gravois Elliott of Huntsville, Jennifer Reine and Chad Andrew Summers, also of Huntsville, and Shannon Matthew and Michele Medeiros Gravois of Spring Hill, Tennessee, as well as his beloved grandchildren Samuel Eli Elliott, Isabel Grace Anne Elliott, Zachary James Sizemore, Sophia Grace Gravois and Beaux Medeiros Gravois.

Kevin’s family is grateful for the compassionate and expert medical care provided by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Advanced Healthcare and Alive Hospice of Nashville.