A.B. "Andy" Ray

Ray, A.B. "Andy"
Family and friends of A.B. "Andy" Ray are invited to attend a remembrance in his honor on Saturday, May 14, at noon, in Prescott. A map of the precise location will be provided upon RSVP to his niece, Maria, either by phone at (602) 909-2669 or by email at mgbaier@gmail.com. Andy Ray, formerly of Phoenix and Black Canyon City, passed away on March 1, 2011, at the Bob Stump Veteran's Hospital in Prescott. He was born on February 28, 1924, in Florence, Kansas, and was graduated from Noble High School in Noble, Illinois in 1943. He worked to help support his family during high school and then joined the Seabees and was shipped to the Pacific to serve in WWII. After the war, his family moved to Phoenix, where he worked as a plumber at the Phoenix Indian School. He married Belle Harb in 1958, long deceased. He then applied for a civilian position at Luke AFB and worked there until his retirement in 1984. Andy's retirement years were spent traveling the USA and Canada with his loving companion, Lee, who survives him, and their dogs. Lee continues to raise their dog, Berry, as well as their "rescue" pig, fondly known as Sir Francis Bacon. Andy was a great student of history, and particularly the Civil War. He also read and knew much about the history, terrain and geology of Arizona and the rest of the Western United States, and was an able prospector. Andy also is survived by one of his nine siblings, Flora Blain, of St. Peters, Missouri, as well as many nieces and nephews. Contributions in his name are suggested to the National Trust for Historic Preservation or the Bob Stump Veteran's Hospital.