Leslie W. Ray's Obituary
Leslie W. Ray, 86 years of Waterloo, IL, and formerly of Middlebrook, MO, passed away on March 10, 2019 at de Greeff Hospice House, St. Louis, MO. He was born March 26, 1932, in Crossville, TN, son of the late James and Alice, nee Dixon, Ray. He was married to the late Maude, nee Gaston, Ray. She had passed away August 15, 1999.
Leslie was retired from the Norfolk Southern Railroad. He had served in the U.S. Air Force at the end of the Korean War.
Surviving are his son, Steven (Cathy) Ray of Columbia, IL; two daughters, Debra (Jeff) Ware of New Baden, IL, and Melissa (Victor) Nordike of Waterloo, IL; grandchildren, Candy, Christy (Kevin), Jason (Kate), Wesley (Beth), Steven (Jamie), Lynsey (Gene), Chelsea, Eddie, Ryan (Nicole), Nora (Curtis), and Meg; great-grandchildren, Carlye (Dakota), Clayre, Maddie, Jake, Reese, Abbi, Trent, Addison, Jolie, Colten, Miles, Morgan, Kenzie, Landon, Emme, Natalie, and Nicole; brother, David (Linda) Ray of Bonne Terre, MO; four sisters, Berta (Dan) Drye of Doe Run, MO, Janet Odle of Farmington, MO, Nancy Hall of Farmington, MO, and Joy (Tom) Hall of Farmington, MO, along with other relatives and friends.
He was also preceded in death by his brother; Eugene Ray; two sisters, Frances Hardy, and Iris Queen; brothers-in-law, Garry Odle, Finis Hardy, and Auggie Queen, and sister-in-law, Wanda Ray.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 14, 2019, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, at Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia, IL. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, March 15, at the funeral home with Pastor John Canterberry, officiating. Interment and Military Honors will follow in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to: de Greeff Hospice House, 10016 Kennerly Rd., St. Louis, MO, 63128. For more information, please access our website, www.leesmanfuneralhome.com. Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia, IL, handled arrangements.
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