Thomas Leo Ray, 91, of Killen, AL, went to his heavenly home on January 12, 2019.
Leo was a man of honor, integrity, and character the likes of which don’t come along often. Leo loved everyone, lived a life of service, and never met a stranger. He lived his life for Jesus, which was evident in all that he did. Those who knew him are better for it.
Being born in 1927 in the Mitchelltown community in eastern Lauderdale County didn’t seem like much at the time. However, God had a plan. Working on the family farm, plowing with a 2-mule team at age 10 before walking to school was what it took for a farming family to make it in those days. Everybody helped. After returning from serving his country in occupied Germany in 1947, Leo met the lovely Mattie Ruth Grigsby and a beautiful love story began. For seventy-one years, their story is one of God, family, church, and community. With her by his side, they settled in downtown Killen, where they reared 5 children, adored 13 grandchildren, and took great joy in 23 great-grandchildren. Leo lived a life of service and was an active member of the Killen community. He was a charter member in the Killen Lions Club where he spent many years trying to create the perfect chicken stew. While serving as President of the Lions Club in the late 1960’s, the entire club was instrumental in convincing then Governor Albert Brewer that the Town of Killen needed a high school and Brooks High School became a reality. For his work with the Lions Club, Leo received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He was also a charter member of the Killen Volunteer Fire Department, a water board member, baseball coach, a building committee member at Killen United Methodist Church where he was a longtime member and worked with various other building projects. Working as a storeroom supervisor at Colbert Steam Plant, Leo retired from TVA in 1987 with 42 years. Leo also ran Ray’s Radio and TV repair out of his house for many years. Upon retirement, he took up the game of golf, but continued to be an integral part of his community. He became certified in heating and A/C in order to save his church money on maintenance, participated in the electrical wiring of over 80 homes with the local Habitat for Humanity, worked as an election official, served as a Colbert Credit Union (TVA Community Credit Union) board member. He raised money and rallied volunteers to repair homes for the elderly and disabled in the Killen community. He was honored as an exceptional citizen by the Town of Killen and has served as Grand Marshal of the Killen Founder’s Day Parade along with his wife. Only after reaching the age of 88 did he reluctantly decide to lay down his tool belt and let the younger workers take over. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to love, laugh, and always help others. With a genius level IQ, he was our go-to man for just about any problem. If it broke, Leo could fix it. If it confused you, he could explain it in simple terms. If you ever saw a repair truck in his driveway, they weren’t there to work on something, they were there to ask him how to repair a problem for someone else. In his final years he loved to sit on his back porch and visit with family and friends that would stop to chat. But his favorite pastime was to roar with laughter as his great-grandchildren would run, play and scream with delight as they played in his back yard.
The patriarch of his family, Leo leaves to cherish great memories his loving wife of 71 years, Mattie Ruth Grigsby Ray; five children-Sheliah (Larry) English, Lonnie (Sandra) Ray, Diane (Greg) Hamner, Barry (Dawn) Ray, and Larry (Dana) Ray; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; two sisters – Brenda Urban and Jenny Masonia; two brothers – Bobby Ray and Charles Ray; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents – Henry Marvin and Emma Holden Ray; sister – Idell Comer; and brother – William Carlon Ray.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at the Killen United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Pastors Darrin English (grandson) and Bryan McIntyre will officiate. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers are Johnny Wayne Putman, Milton Mitchell, Mike Willis, Don Grey, Jackie Bevis, Wayne Parker, and Gale Douglass.
Honorary pallbearers are the men of Sunday School Class 10 from the Killen United Methodist Church and the men of the Killen Lions Club.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for all of the visits, cards, gifts, phone calls, and prayers. Special thanks to the staff at The Summit Rehabilitation Center at Mitchell Hollingsworth, Community Care Hospice, and Bobby Richardson for their loving care.
Elkins East Chapel is assisting the family.
You are invited to leave condolences at www.elkinsfuneralhome.com.
