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Charles Ray Obituary
1943 - 2014
Charles C. Ray Jr., 71, passed away at Froedtert Hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014.
He was born in Crossville, Tenn., on Jan. 14, 1943, son of the late Charles Ray and Sylvia (nee: England; Wood) Jackson. Charles never met his father, a U.S. soldier KIA in 1943. Charles was deeply treasured by his mother who prayed for him every day of her life.
His ancestry is a long line of lawyers and judges and he was very proud to legally represent himself, pro se, in court when the need arose; resulting in changes to Wisconsin case law.
Charles had "the gift of gab" and was a relentless salesman who had worked for Boucher in Racine. He enjoyed fishing, watching western movies, listening to Elvis Presley music, and traveling with his "babe," Lil, who "lit up his life."
Charles died when he rushed into a burning pet store to save all of the animals. ...Or maybe not. We all know how he liked to tell stories. As it turns out, he received an offer he couldn't refuse: to leave his used and broken body for an assignment with 110% job security in a wonderful place, reunited with loved ones, dancing on streets of gold.
Charles and his stories will be deeply missed by his wife, Lillian Ray; his children, Charles C. Ray III, Keith (April) Ray, Tina (Steve) Persels, Donald Ray, Pamela (Lawrence) Wallace, Deanna (Philip) Alexander; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is further survived by his sisters, Barbara Rash, and Georgia (David) Wasmundt; sister-in-law, Dorothy Wood; and his former spouse, Willamina "Billie" Sweeney.
He was also preceded in death by his stepfathers, Tom Wood, Sr. and Coy Jackson; and his brother, Tom Wood, Jr.
Visitation will be in the Funeral Home on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, beginning at 10 a.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Monday, followed by Interment at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. Memorials to the family have been kindly suggested.
Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home
4600 County Line Road, Racine
(262) 552-9000
www.draeger-langendorf.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Charles Ray
4 Entries
Jerilyn K [ Jerry ] Miller [ Reilly }
November 14, 2014
Oh Dear Charles, I had not seen you for some years but your family and mine were friends when the children were all small..I surely remember your winning smile...You trusted your children to stay with me and my husband Mike in the summers n such..I surely am glad to have found Tina's post...You behave up there with St. Peter..love from an old friend , Jerry Reilly , and here family..I now use my ladylike spelling of Jeri and have a different last name..but of course , you know that..you have the good balcony seat...see you soon. I pray that your family understands and heals from this loss.
Charles married Lillian in 1978.
Deanna Alexander
October 31, 2014
Deanna Alexander
October 31, 2014
In honor of dad, to whom "4115" finally means nothing.
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Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home & Crematory4600 County Line Rd., Mount Pleasant, WI 53403
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