Thomas Gray, of Brownsville, was a private (not a lieutenant) and died in 1862 (not 1864), so this is either a different man or the family story published in the obituary is erroneous in some respects.

Thomas E. Gray attended the annual muster of Co. G, 50th Regiment Arkansas Militia, in Prairie County, March 7-9, 1862, mustering as a first sergeant. He enrolled in the Brownsville Home Guard on May 7, 1862. He then either enlisted or was conscripted in Co. K, 29th Arkansas Infantry. He was mustered into State service with his company at Little Rock on May 16, 1862, for a term of six months; and was mustered into Confederate service with his company at Camp Hindman on June 7, 1862, for a term of three years or the war. He was detailed on extra duty as a mechanic [carpenter] from June 21 to July 2, 1862, and from July 28 to August 28, 1862, when he died. It's unclear whether he died in a Little Rock hospital, or at home. He is interred in Brownsville Cemetery, Lonoke County [15 Dec 1830 to 28 Aug 1862].

The 29th Arkansas was redesignated as the 37th Arkansas after the battle of Prairie Grove, and all the service records are filed as such, including those soldiers who were no longer with the command after the reorganization.