SGT. THOMAS C. RAY II, age 40, of Weaverville was killed in action in Iraq on Saturday, March 22, 2008. Sgt. Ray grew up in El Paso, Texas. He served in the US Navy after high school and was in the reserves; he joined the National Guard two years ago and has been in Iraq since September 2007. He is the son of Ozelle Shultz Ray of Asheville and the late Thomas C. Ray, Sr. Surviving in addition to his mother, is his wife, Linda Metcalf Ray; daughter, Sydney Ray of the home; sisters Tammy Beddingfield and Monica Travis. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday April 1st in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, Weaverville, NC. Burial will be at 12:00 noon in Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC. www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com