Edward Ray passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on March 3, 2014. Ed fought a long and valiant battle with heart and liver disease. Ed was born in Hackleburg, Alabama. As a child, he moved with his parents to Adrian, Michigan, where Ed attended school. Upon graduating from Adrian High School, where he met many lifelong friends, Ed attended college in Michigan, and graduated from University of Michigan in 1974. Soon after he moved to California and completed his Master’s Degree at University of California, Davis. Ed enjoyed a long career as a farmer, working for Cal fruit, Sun World, and was an owner of Ag-Wise Enterprises with his longtime friend, Bruce Beretta (Melissa Fortune). Ed was considered one of the foremost grape and pepper growers in California.
Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Flety Ray; many Ray and Taylor aunts and uncles who he dearly loved; and his father-in-law, Jack Haley. Ed is survived by his wife, Kathleen Haley Ray; daughters, Monica Alsup (AJ), Liza Ray (Robert Bradley), Natalie Ray, and Sylvie Ray. Additional survivors include his only grandchild, Adilade Alsup; his brother, Brad Ray (Tarnara); aunt, Guynell Sanders (Gay); aunt, Ann Vickery (Crockett); uncle, Max Ray (Carole); uncle Wayne Ray (Lela); uncle, Jimmy Ray (Jean); numerous beloved cousins, including his childhood friend and partner in crime, Johnny Ray (Sandy); his ex-wife and mother of his oldest two daughters, Peggy Peltfer; and mother-in-law, Elizabeth DeLuca Haley.
The funeral will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Friday, March 7, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. just prior to the funeral. Pallbearers will be David Beretta, Marco Beretta, Michael Kovacevich, Jeff Sanders, Hal Haley, Tim Kleier, Garry Richardson, and Dallas Leveroni.
A service will also be held in Hackleburg, Alabama, Ed’s hometown, on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Hackleburg Baptist Church, and a burial at Cedar Tree Cemetery in Hackleburg. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m.
The Ray Family would like to thank all of our friends and family for the wonderful support you have given us during Ed’s illness. He was an incredible father, grandfather, husband, brother, uncle, and friend. We will deeply miss him.
