Submitted by
Barbara (Caddell) Fox
Waco Tribune-Herald
Waco, Texas
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Page 3-B
Johnny
Edward Ray
May 2, 1919 - October 14, 2007
Johnny Edward Ray, 88, of Mart, entered into
rest Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday,
Oct. 18, at Ward Street Church of Christ with Travis Smith officiating.
Burial will follow at Criswell
Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, at
Adams Funeral Home.
Mr. Ray was born May 2, 1919, in Dibble, Okla., to
Jesse and Odie Mae Ray. He married Bobbie Louise Stone Sept. 30, 1942, in
Waco. He was a member of the Ward Street Church of Christ and a Veteran
of the United States Army serving in World War II.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a
daughter, Carolyn Ray.
Survivors include wife, Bobbie Louise Ray of Mart;
three sons, Bobby Edward Ray of Austin, Gregory Bryan Ray of Edmond, Okla., and
Stanley Clayton Ray of San Diego, Calif.; grandchildren, Jerri Grant, Nicki
Arnold, Jenifer Harrison, Charles Ray, Lindsey Ray and Ben Hall; and great-
grandchildren, Shannon Arnold, Andrew, Arnold, Michael Grant and Sarah Grant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Groesbeck Journal
Groesbeck, Texas
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Page 8 - Section A
Johnny E. Ray Funeral Services Held October 18
Johnny Edward Ray 88, of Mart
passed away Sunday, October 14, 2007, after a brave battle with Alzheimer’s
disease. Funeral services were held Thursday, October 18, 2007 at the
Ward Street Church of Christ in Marlin with Travis J. Smith officiating.
Burial followed at Criswell Cemetery in Falls County. The family was
served lunch at the Mart Church of Christ following the graveside service.
J. E. was born
May 2, 1919 in Dibble, Oklahoma to Jesse and Odie Mae Williams Ray. He served
in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He married Bobbie Louise Stone Ray on
September 30, 1942. He was employed by the Veterans Administration for 25
years and resided in Marlin until 2001. He was a life long member of the
Church of Christ. In his eighty eight years, he was a valiant warrior, a
dependable friend, a loyal husband, a Godly father and a loving
grandfather. He was a hero and a blessing to his family.
He was preceded
in death by his beloved daughter Carolyn Ann Ray; his parents; three sisters:
Oma Ray, Mina Ray Stone and Thelma Ray Morgan; two brothers, Murray Ray and
William L. Ray.
He is survived
by his loving wife of 65 years Louise Ray; sons Bobby Ray and daughter-in-law
Becky of Austin, Greg Ray of Edmond, Oklahoma and Stan Ray and daughter-in-law
Crissy of San Diego, California: two grandson, Charles Ray and wife Jennifer of
Edmund, Oklahoma and Benjamin Hall of San Diego, California; four
granddaughters, Jerri Grant and husband John of Carrollton, Nicki Arnold and
husband William of Austin, Genifer Harrison of Dallas, and Lindsey Ray of
Edmund, Oklahoma; four great grandchildren: Shannon and Andrew Arnold of
Austin, and Michael and Sarah Grant of Carrollton.
Pallbearers
were grandson Charles Ray; great grandsons Andrew Arnold and Michael Grant;
nephews Steven Ray, Russ Jay Alcott, Keith Stone and great nephews Michael
Milnes and Randall Brown.
Honorary
Pallbearers were Ernest Martinez, Tim Smith, Gary Smith, Aubrey Stone, Terry
Stone, Winfred Stone, Gary Patterson, Harvey Patterson, Robert Ray, Beau Ray,
Nicky Ray, Carlton Morgan, Kenny Ray, Dennis Ray, Jeff Brown and Benjamin
Hall. Go to Mem.com and watch the tribute and sign the guest book.
A Veteran Died Today
He was getting old and paunchy and hair was falling
fast, and he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past. Of a war
that he had fought in, and deeds that he had done. In his exploits with
his buddies; they were heroes, everyone. And ’tho sometimes, to his
neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew
whereof he spoke. But we’ll hear his tales no longer, for ol’ Bob has
passed away, and the world’s a little poorer, for a Veteran died today.
No, he won’t be
mourned by many, just his children and his wife. For he lived an
ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family,
quietly going on his way; and the world won’t note his passing; ’tho a Veteran
died today.
When
politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note
their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their
life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Veteran,
goes unnoticed, and unsung. Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare
of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man? Or
the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his
Country and offers up his life? The politician’s stipend and the style in
which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate, to the service he gives.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really
want some cop-out, with his ever waffling stand? Or would you want a
Veteran, who has sworn to defend, his home, his kin, and Country, and would
fight until the end?
He was just a
common Veteran and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind
us, we may need his likes again. For when countries are in conflict, then
we find the Military’s part, is to clean up all the troubles, that the
politicians start.
If we cannot do
him honor, while he’s here to hear the praise, then at least let’s give him
homage, at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline, in the
paper that might say: Our Country is in Mourning for a Veteran Died
Today.
Author unknown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mart Messenger
Mart, Texas
October 25, 2007
Page 2
RAY
Johnny Edward Ray 88, of Mart
passed away Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, after a brave battle with Alzheimer's
disease. Funeral services were 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 18, 2007 at
the Ward Street Church of Christ in Marlin with Travis J. Smith officiating.
Burial followed at Criswell Cemetery in Falls County. The family was
served lunch at the Mart Church of Christ following the graveside service.
J. E. was born
May 2, 1919 in Dibble, Oklahoma to Jesse and Odie Mae Williams Ray. He served
in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He married Bobbie Louise Stone Ray on
September 30, 1942. He was employed by the Veterans Administration for 25
years and resided in Marlin until 2001. He was a life long member of the
Church of Christ.
In his eighty
eight years, he was a valiant warrior, a dependable friend, a loyal husband, a
Godly father and a loving grandfather. He was a hero and a blessing to his
family. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Carolyn Ann Ray;
his parents; three sisters: Oma Ray, Mina Ray Stone and Thelma Ray
Morgan; two brothers, Murray Ray and William L. Ray.
He is survived
by his loving wife of 65 years Louise Ray; sons, Bobby Ray and daughter-in-law
Becky of Austin, Greg Ray of Edmond, Oklahoma and Stan Ray and daughter-in-law
Crissy of San Diego, California; two grandsons, Charles Ray and wife Jennifer
of Edmund, Oklahoma and Benjamin Hall of San Diego, California; four
granddaughters, Jerri Grant and husband John of Carrollton, Nicki Arnold and
husband William of Austin, Texas, Genifer Harrison of Dallas, Texas and Lindsey
Ray of Edmund, Oklahoma; four great-grandchildren, Shannon and Andrew Arnold of
Austin, Texas and Michael and Sarah Grant of Carrollton, Texas.
Pallbearers
were grandson Charles Ray; great-grandsons, Andrew Arnold and Michael Grant;
nephews, Steven Ray, Russ Jay Alcott, and Keith Stone and great-nephews Michael
Milnes and Randall Brown. Honorary Pallbearers were Ernest Martinez, Tim
Smith, Gary Smith, Aubrey Stone, Terry Stone, Winfred Stone, Gary Patterson,
Harvey Patterson, Robert Ray, Beau Ray, Nicky Ray, Carlton Morgan, Kenny Ray,
Dennis Ray, Jeff Brown and Benjamin Hall.
Visitation was
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at Adams Funeral Home in Marlin from 6:00 to 9:00
p.m.
We invite you
to go to Mem.com and watch the tribute and sign the guest book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Submitted by
Ken Gates
Marlin Democrat
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Marlin, Texas
Johnny Edward “J. E.” Ray
May 2, 1919 – October 14, 2007
Johnny Edward Ray 88, of Mart passed away
Sunday, October 14, 2007, after a brave battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Funeral services were held October 18, 2007 at the Ward Street Church of
Christ in Marlin with Travis J. Smith officiating. Burial followed at Criswell
Cemetery in Falls County.
The family luncheon was held at the Mart Church of Christ following the
graveside service.
J. E. was born May 2, 1919 in Dibble, Oklahoma to Jesse and Odie Mae Williams
Ray. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945.
He married Bobbie Louise Stone Ray on September 30, 1942. He was
employed by the Veterans Administration for 25 years and resided in Marlin
until 2001. He was a life long member of the Church of Christ.
In his 88 years, he was a valiant warrior, a dependable friend, a loyal
husband, a Godly father and a loving grandfather. He was a hero and a blessing
to his family.
He
was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Carolyn Ann Ray; his parents;
three sisters: Oma Ray, Mina Ray Stone and Thelma Ray Morgan; and two brothers,
Murray Ray and William L. Ray.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Louise Ray; sons, Bobby
Ray and daughter-in-law Becky of Austin, Greg Ray of Edmond, Oklahoma and Stan
Ray and daughter-in-law Crissy of San Diego, California; two grandson, Charles
Ray and wife Jennifer of Edmund, Oklahoma and Benjamin Hall of San Diego,
California; four granddaughters, Jerri Grant and husband John of Carrollton,
Nicki Arnold and husband William of Austin, Genifer Harrison of Dallas, and
Lindsey Ray of Edmund, Oklahoma; four great-grandchildren, Shannon and Andrew
Arnold of Austin and Michael and Sarah Grant of Carrollton.
Pallbearers were grandson Charles Ray and great-grandsons; Andrew Arnold
and Michael Grant, nephews Steven Ray, Russ Jay Alcott, and Keith Stone and
great-nephews Michael Milnes and Randall Brown. Honorary Pallbearers were
Ernest Martinez, Tim Smith, Gary Smith, Aubrey Stone, Terry Stone, Winfred
Stone, Gary Patterson, Harvey Patterson, Robert Ray, Beau Ray, Nicky Ray,
Carlton Morgan, Kenny Ray, Dennis Ray, Jeff Brown and Benjamin Hall.
Visitation was held October 17, at Adams Funeral Home.
We invite you to go to MEM.COM and watch the tribute and sign the guest
book.