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Perry Franklin Ray
Perry Franklin Ray, 88, of Butler, passed away Friday, February 1, 2019, at home
surrounded by family.
He was born December 18, 1930, in Nichola, Armstrong County, PA, to the late
James Herbert Ray, Sr., and Mary (Campbell) Lamison Ray. Perry married Violet
Mae McKee on August 24, 1951.
He was a 1949 graduate of Worthington-West Franklin High School where he
received the American Legion Award in 8th grade and was President of his senior
class. He graduated from Clarion State Teacher's College with a teaching
degree. He attended various universities to receive his Master's degree.
He taught at the West Sunbury High School for one year where he coached the
boys' basketball team followed by 36 years in the Butler School District at
Butler Junior High School and Butler Intermediate High School where he retired
as head of the Science Department in 1989.
After retiring from teaching, he worked at the Butler VNA for 11 years. Perry
also sold Erie Insurance and World Book Encyclopedias part-time, and in his
early years, was a member of the blast crew in the limestone mines in
Worthington, PA.
Perry was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Prospect, PA, where he was a
former deacon and Sunday School teacher. He was a former President of the
Butler County Coordinating Council of the PSEA; President of the school board of
the First Baptist Christian School; President of Butler's Farm Market; and a
former leader of the Unionville Community 4-H Club. He was a lifetime member of
the Unionville Grange; member of the Pennsylvania Gladiolus Society; member of
the United Commercial Travelers; a life member of the NRA; and a member of Trout
Unlimited and Ducks Unlimited.
Perry was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Violet Mae McKee Ray; five sons, Richard
Ray of Butler, Dennis Ray (Brianne) of Butler, Thomas Ray of Harrisville,
Jonathan Ray of Lima, OH, and Christopher Ray of Butler; and four daughters,
Susan Levish (Greg) of Sarver, Hope Hoffman (Larry) of Mount Chestnut, Cindy
Weiland (Guy) of Butler, and Karen Al-Faleh (Jamal) of Gaithersburg, MD; 25
grandchildren, and 41 great-grandchildren. Also, surviving are two brothers,
Richard Ray (Marlene) of Indiana, PA, Donald Ray (Nancy) of Poland, OH; and one
sister, Shirley Hardies of Severna Park, MD, and a number of nieces and
nephews.
In addition to his parents, Perry was preceded in death by his brothers Wilbert,
William, James Herbert, Jr., Adam, and George H. Ray; and sisters Sarah
Ellenberger, Elsie Couch, Martha Rider Ellenberger, and Bernice (Jean) Maley,
and his daughter-in-law Sandy Cumberledge Ray.
Friends of Perry F. Ray will be received from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday,
Feb 5, 2019, at the Edward L. Raisley Funeral Home, 387 Main Street, Prospect.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, 11 a.m. at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, with
the Rev. Ben Oesterling officiating.
Interment will be at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2251 Prospect
Road, Prospect, PA 16052.
Arrangements by Edward L. Raisley Funeral Home, Prospect, PA. |
