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Charles Ray "Big Ray" Gordon Sr.

Charles Gordon Obituary

STANLEY- Charles Ray Gordon Sr. "Big Ray", 52, of 1001 Caldon Drive, passed away Friday Dec. 24, 2010 at Gaston Memorial Hospital. He was a lov-ing and funny father, brother, grandpa, and uncle. He will be missed but not forgotten.
He attended East Gaston high School in Mount Holly, N.C. He had also joined the US Army. His last job was a truck driver for Gail's food Factory. Over the years he had been a football and basketball coach for small children.
Ray loved basketball and race car driving. He loved the North Carolina Tarheels and Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
He is survived by his children Rachel Gulledge and husband Michael, Ray Gordon Jr. and wife Amanda and youngest son Dalton Gordon. Two step-children Melissa and Tyler Davis. Four brothers Donnie Gordon and wife Lannie, Dub Mayes, Wayne Mayes and wife Dean, and Mickey Gordon and wife Doris. Three sisters Bobbie Avant, Kay Settlemyre, and Bernice Poteat. Five grandchildren Bryan Carter, Brianna Gordon, Jerrica Gulledge, Alex Gordon, and Zoey Gordon and many nieces, nephews, and special friends.
Ray was preceded in death by both parents, James and Ola Gordon, both sets of Grandparents, one sister Jean Stewart and 2 nephews.
Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday December 30, 2010 at the Woodlawn Chapel of Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly with Rev. Jerry Rhodes and Mr. Richard Smith. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Gardens. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and other times at the home.
Woodlawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Gaston Gazette from Dec. 28 to Dec. 29, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Gordon

60 Entries

Madison

October 11, 2023

Hey Ray it´s Madison. I stumbled across this looking for pictures of you that maybe me and dalton didn´t have a copy of. I never had the opportunity to meet you, unfortunately you were gone far to soon. But I want you to know I do my very best to take care of your boy and I love him with everything I´ve got. I know you come visit the kids sometimes, we used to catch Ruger talking to you when he was just a year old. They sure are growing up to be a lot like you from everything dalton and people have told me about you. We chose Ruger´s middle name after you, and Kane really does embody "rowdy". You would get a kick out of them if you were here. I know you watch over us and I´m very grateful for that. I try to get flowers out for you as often as I can and I hope you can hear me when I talk to you on my visits. I just want you to know I´m so grateful for your family and your son. I´m so proud of your grandkids and they´re so smart already. I know you´d love them as much as I do. If you can just try to show dalton you´re around, he misses you so much. I think he thinks I´m crazy for talking to you sometimes but I know you´re here with us and I just wish I had gotten the chance to speak to you while you were here. I promise we´re doing everything we can to make sure your grandsons know exactly who you are and who you were when you were here. We have two of your old Taz plushies put back for them and some of your old nascar things. I hope you´re living it up up there and I´ll get to meet you one day

kay settlemyre

June 17, 2012

HAPPY FATHERS DAY ROWDY sorry i didnt make it to the grave today me and sandy cooked dinner for russ,rusty and benny. just had hot dogs and hambrgers. we had a nice time.tell daddy i said happy fathers day too. love you with all my heart and miss you so much. been a long day so i'm goin go for now but not for long. remember i love and miss you. love sissy

kay settlemyre

June 11, 2012

hey rowdy HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY another birthday without you here with me. i love you and miss you very much. i got my nc flag up your pictures and flower and the candle i will burn for you today.i'm going to take a big flower down and put on your grave i think i will leave it on till after fathers day. russ left me a card and some money when he left for work this morning. i was looking for a old picture of you and me on our birthday when we were about 1 or 2 years old with our birthday cake sitting in front of us but i couldn't find it, but i got some took the sameday so i sit them in with the candle and stuff.ole yell i got your nc nome that i got you for christmas the year you passed sitting with the rest of the stuff for the day then i will put it back in the box. i think about you everyday i keep you in my heart always. i don't know if you realized that you were really my best friend in the whole world and most of the time the only friend i had.today is really hard but everyday is hard. i know you will have a great birthday in heaven with mom,dad and all the rest of the family up there with you. i never thought i would be visiting your grave i guess i thought you would always be here with me everday.i'm doing pretty good most of the time.been busy lately taking mickey and sandy back and forth to the doctor it gets me out of the house i'm not just sitting in the house all the time i done that for so long.its about 2 am i guess i better go to bed and try to get some sleep dub will down in the morning for our weekly weigh in he comes about 7:30. it not going to be good this week it hasn't for awhile now. help me get back on track with my diet i need all the help i can get. i love you to the moon and stars and back again.i'll keep you in my heart forever. i will go for now but not forever i'll be back soon and talk to you again.always rememer i love you and miss you so much. HAPPY 54 BIRTHDAY i hope your kids get through today ok. give all the family a big hug and kiss for me and give yourself one for me too. lots of love and RIP lots of love till i see you again sissy

kay settlemyre

May 26, 2012

hey rowdy, been looking at old pictures and feeling a little down. sure wish you were here. i miss you so much. you know today is quinn's 25 birthday, i took some of your flowers and made him one to put with the candle and pictures i set up today hope you don't mind. give quinn o big hug and kiss for me and tell him i love him and miss him so much,please tell mom and the rest of our family the same for me. rowdy my heart hurts as much today as it did the day you passed.i wish i could see you here with us. there so much i should have told and said to you whie you were alive. god i wish i had. i hope you know how much i love you. a part of me is gone to heaven with you and a part of you will always be with me in my heart. i dream of you sometimes but i think of you all the time. i love looking at your pics and thinking about you. well rowdy its about midnight so i guess i better go for now but not forever. give everybody a big hug and kis for me and tell them someday i'll be able to do it myself. i love and miss you with all my heart. good nite and love you to the moon and stars and back again.RIP rowdy, love sissy

kay settlemyre

February 14, 2012

hey rowdy, sorry i didn't realize your page had run out. i put it back on for a year. i wanted to say HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. will u tell everyone the same for me.u know today is payton's 12th birthday she is growing up so fast. i got 2 talk 2 her a little while ago and wished her happy birthday and happy valentine's day. i sure do miss u so much. i love you too. i am going to try to put a flower on yours and mom and dad graves this week if it warms up alittle, i should have already done but i haven't sorry about that. i going on quinns page to haven't been on it in awhile either. but i do think of you everyday. i sure wish you were here with us. i'm going to go for now but not forever. always remember you are in my heart always every minute of everyday. i love you and miss you with all my heart.i'm so glad i have alot of pictures of us together. my heart hurts so much for you.love you more than you could ever know. love always sissy

hannah welch

January 22, 2012

Hey uncle ray. I miss you so much. I judged wanted to write to you. I think of you often. The other day my friend and I went to cmc to see her gma we got lost on the way home and I was like wait I can call my uncle he will get us home. Then I realized I couldn't. I never thought that I'd be living without you or Quinn. Yall meant the world to me. It's hard to enjoy everything I have right now because my heart is stuck in the past with yall. I took ray to the doc Monday. He has lost his hearing due to the fluid on his ears. But we prayed for him today, as I do every day. He goes for surgery on the second. I was so scared I've cried a ton. But I placed it in Gods hands and I know he's gonna make a way for my booger. Well I am starting to feel a little teary eyed so I think I'm gonna go. I love you so much. More than words can explain. Can't wait to see you again. Visit me in my dreams please.

KAY SETTLEMYRE

January 1, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR ROWDY PLEASE TELL MOM,DAD,GRANNY,QUINNUNCLE PROSS I SAID HAPPY NEW YEAR.LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL VERY MUCH.LOVE SISSY

kay settlemyre

December 30, 2011

hey rowdy just wanted to let you that i got to see dalton today.he brought me a christmas present guess what it was a m&m red sweater cap with pig tails.i love it. it something you would have got me. dalton is getting so tall. he said he had a good christmas i know he missed you like crazy.but he knows you were there with him.love ya and tell everyone i love and miss them. got to go for how but not forever. love with all my heart. sissy

Ray Gordon Jr.

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas Daddy I love you and miss you so very much. Alex and Zoey ask about you all the time they miss you so much to. I'm going through some tough times lately just look out for me. I love you!

kay settlemyre

December 24, 2011

hey rowsy i came on here right after 12 this morning and talked to you but for reasun it didn't go through. its already christmas eve, its hard to beleive its been a year already. sometimes it seems like a lifetime and other times ir seems like it was just yesterday. it still breaks my jeart just as much today as it did a year ago. i went down to your grave just a few minutes ago and put your flower on that has our pictures on it. i got my tarheel flag flying and my candle burning and pictures sitting out of us. i hope you,mom,dad,quinn,granny and of course our santa clause uncle pross has a great christmas together. don't think i will do anything today don't feelmuch like celebrating these days. i got to go get payton the other day and take her out to eat and gave her her christmas from me and russ. christmas don't seem like christmas anymore. i love and miss you so much. i think of you everyday and always will. i hope you hear me when i talk to you at night when i go to bed. its been a long and lonely year knowing you are not suffering no more helps me get through the day.thanks for watching over us and keeping us safe. i wish i could have gave you a christmas present again this year the one i got you last tear is sitting with the candle that is burning. i hope you don't ever forget me i won't ever ever forget you. i love you with all my heart. would you tell all the family up there i love and miss them to and merry christmas and happy new year. merry christmas and happy new year to you to. i was always proud to be your sister and twin sure wish my better half was still here but not in pain or suffering. i got us a sausage and egg biscuit and a diet coke for breakfast and ate it with you at the graveyard i know that was your favorite i enjoyed it to.i hope you have alot of visitors at the grave today i like going down and sit and talking to you that helps me alot. thanks again for all the things you done for me and for always loving me even when it wasn't easy. give everyone a hug and kiss from me and give yourself une to, i;m goin go for now but not for long. i'll be back soon and talk some more. hope you enjoy looking at your flower today. love you with all my heart and miss you. i can't wait till i can see you again and give you a big hug. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AND NEVER WILL BE.LOVE YOU TILL MY HEART HURTS SISSY

Hannah Welch (Poteat)

December 24, 2011

Well ol' man the year mark has come. I miss you so much. I cannot believe it has been this long. I don't know how I survive without you and Quinn here with me. Today is going to be a VERY hard day on all of us. Please look after us especially Rachel ray and Dalton. You should see my Ray. He is so big and growing so fast. Rieghleigh had a delay in her speech, we have been going to speech therapy for 2 months. She is talking her head off now. There's so much I wanna say but can't put it all together. I just want you to know I love you and think of you every day. My heart is broken without you and Quinn!

I love you ol' man! Please continue to watch over me. You know what I'm going through and know I need your help. You always had the best advice for me!!

Love always
Your Banana

KAY SETTLEMYRE

December 24, 2011

rachel,lt ray,dalton i know today is going to be real hard on all of you. just know that i will be thinking each of you today and everday. i love all of you very much and miss you all. i hope you all knowed how much your daddy loved you all. he was always so proud to be your daddy. i hope you all can have a merry christmas and happy new year you know your daddy is watching over you all. i'm going to try to get a little sleep now. please always remember i love you all so much.MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVE YOU ALWAYS AUNT KAY

kay settlemyre

December 24, 2011

hey rowdy its christmas eve already. its hard to beleive that its been a year already. i sure do miss you alot as much today as i did this time last year. i am going to take the flower with our pictures on it down to your grave later this morning. think i will get a sausage and egg biscuit and diet coke and come down and eat it with you at the grave. we put a candle and little christmas tree on your gave for the candle light service. i've not seen your kids in a while, but i guess you know how they are doing. it sure has been a long and lonely year. i will fly my carolina flag for you tomorrow and burn my candle. don't think i will do anything tomorrow just don't feel like celebrating anymore. i go to the grave quite often. some days are still real hard but i think about you everyday. i hope you can hear me when i talk to you everynight.thanks for watching over all of us and keeping us safe we sure do need it. i bet you have a great christmas this year with mom,dad,quinn,granny and of course our santa claus uncle pross. please tell them all hey for me and i love and miss them very much. i suredo miss and love you alot too. this old world will never be the same without you, i hope someday i will get to see you again. tell all the family up there merry christmas and happy new year. i think your kids and grandkids are going over to hannaha's tomorrow night. i got to get payton yesterday ans take here out to eat and gave her her christmas from me and russ. russ bought a new battery for the blazer today and cranked it up today. sure is a hatd day today sure wish you were here with us. knowing your not in pain anymore helps me get through the days. i love you with all my heart. i couldn't sleep tonight so i thought i would come on and talk to you for awhile. wayne came up tuesday and went back home wednesday. i think everyone is doing pretty good or as good as they can. you know kenny farmer died this week so mickey and doris as really had a hard week. i'm going to cook dinner for me and russ christmas day. i made him a cake today. me and russ sure do miss and love you alot. i hope you all have a great christmas i will be thinking of all of you. thanks again for all you done for me. my heart still hurts just as bad as it did when i got the about you. it still don't seem real sometimes. it hurts so bad. rowdy i'm goin go for now but not forever. i love you and miss you so much. merry christmas and happy new year. love you with all my heart. i'll be back soon. thanks for loving me i love you. always proud to be your twin. love you always sissy

Rachel Gulledge

November 10, 2011

My Dearest Daddy,
I think of you everyday. It's the little things that set it off now. The Tarheels are fixin to play their 1st season opener and I thought of you. Please tell me that Aunt Joy is up there with you, God I hope so. I just sit and stare at pictures of you but I'm getting better with the crying and all, of course I'm having to see a counselor. Dalton came and seen me a couple of weeks ago, he's getting so tall but I guess you know that. Melissa is pregnant and due on your birthday, but I guess you know that too.Ray's living with Moma...imagine that!!! I just never thought I'd have to face these days alone, well I knew I would but not for a long time. I finally broke down and made the 1st flower to go on your grave, it's not there yet but hey it's a step!!!It's just laying in there on the table. My back has been hurting something awful, they say I have a pinched sciatic nerve, been bothering me since before Halloween. Well I'm gonna go for now but not forever!!! Tell everyone hey for me and that I miss them and hug them for me!!
Love Always,
Daddy's Little Girl

kay settlemyre

September 19, 2011

hey rowdy, ir just me again. i think of you all the time but the last few days have really been hard. so much i wish i could tell you. russ seen dalton the other day up town, he is doing look. i got to see rachel and little ray and the kids the other week over at jill's we went swimming. it was so good to see all of them.don't get to see them much. little ray said his back was doing pretty good. i hope it really is. i sure do miss you alot and i love you as much today as ever. i went to your grave again the other day the flower was still on it. i hope you liked it. i did the best i could with it i'm not very good at making them but i try. i made and put a new on mom grave august 26 she had been dead 10 long years.will you give all of the family a big hug and kiss for meand tell them i love hem and miss them. i flew my tarheel flag for quinn the other day. i knew you wouldn't mind if i used it for him too, well rowdy its yetting late i guess i will go to bed and try to get some sleep. wrap your wings around all of us and keep us safe. i miss you so so much. i know we will see each other again someday. gone for now but not for long.love you always and forever. bye for now. love sissy

August 21, 2011

hi uncle ray im sry i have not wrote in a while, i miss u, quinn, grandma and everyone that has passed,i also miss everyone in nc and in smoaks, i dont what too do or say anymore. i do know that this world is getting cold. i wish u were still here and that i was in nc with u. love ya love charlie

I love this pic of you and Emma at Rieghleigh's bday party

Rachel

August 20, 2011

This made me think of you!!

Rachel

August 20, 2011

Tyler Davis

August 17, 2011

"you're in a better place",
iv heard a thousand times.
and at least a thousand times,
'iv rejoiced for you.
but the reason why im broken,
the reason why i cry,
is how long must i wait to be with you?
i close my eyes,
and i see your face
if home is where my heart is
then im out of place,
LORD wont you give me strength
to make it through somehow?
iv never been more homesick
then now </3.

kay settlemyre

July 12, 2011

hey rowdy, its just me again. i wanted to say i'm sorry for going to the graveyard on fathers day and the 4th of july. somedays i can do pretty good others not so good. i've set out some pictures of us when we were about 1 or 2 years old. i love looking at them it helps me get through the days. i thunk of you everyday and talk to you every night when i go to bed.you know devin is with you and quinn now so keep them straight ok. rowdy thanks for watching over payton and russ for me and keeping them safe. i love you with all my heart and miss you so much. i'm goin go for now but not forever.listen for me at night when i talk to you. it helps me i wish i could call and talk to you.so sorry for all the things i should have done and didn't do. just know i do love you and always have. love you rowdy. love sissy

Rachel

June 14, 2011

Dear Daddy,
Everyone keeps telling me that this will get easier, that time will heal. When is this gonna happen? When will getting up everyday and knowing that I can't call you or ride over to your house ever get easier? When will I be able to pick up the phone and you'll be there? When will I have to like what you have to say one way or another? Tell me Daddy when will it start to get easier when people tell me that they heard and that you were one of the best people that they had known, when??? When will I be able to just sit and talk about you without crying and making the person that brought you up feel awkward? I know that you had a birthday the other day, did you hear me as i wished you a happy one? I didn't go to the graveyard because I couldn't take another day of crying the way I was Friday when I up there ordering your headstone. I think you will like it, they had a #3 race car and I got gone but not forgotten, because you'll never be. Dalton's doing good and Tiny had puppies. We're getting one and Dalton's keeping one. This will be my 1st birthday without you and it's Father's Day, so I'll try to make it down there. It's just so hard Daddy knowing that you're not here, to tell Happy Father's Day, to get one of your sappy cards on my birthday and to give one of those sappy cards to.I just need to hear you say that it'll be ok, to get up up and go on about life but I can't, I just don't know how to live life without you and it seems everybody is just going on about theirs and I'm stuck. I wished you would come to me in a dream or something.....anything. Well I'm gonna go for now but not forever. Just remember that I love you and that Dalton loves you too!! Happy Father's Day Daddy
Love Your Little Girl

KAY SETTLEMYRE

June 11, 2011

hey rowdy, HAPPY HAPPY "53" BIRTHDAY I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT BIRTHDAY WITH ALL OUR FAMILY THATS WITH YOU. YOU KNOW I HAVE NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY BY MYSELF. IF I HAD ANY IDEA LAST YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST BIRTHDAY WE WOULD HAVE TOGETHER I WOULD HAVE STAYED AT HOME AND NOT WENT DOWN TO BERTY'S. I WENT DOWN TO THE GRAVEYARD THIS MORNING AND ATE BREAKFAST WITH YOU I GOT A SAUSAE AND EGG BISCUIT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT WAS YOUR FAVORITE. I HUNG UP A TARHEEL FLAG UP FOR YOU TODAY AND I GOT A TARHEEL CANDLE BURNING FOR YOU TOO. ROWDY I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THINGS I NEVER EVEV THOUGHT ABOUT UNTIL LAST NIGHT AFTER I WENT TO BED. THINGS LIKE WHEN THEY SEPARATED IN SCHOOL AND WOULDN'T LET US BE IN THE SAME CLASS ANYMORE I WAS SO SCARED BUT YOU MADE IT OK YOU SAID WE WOULD SEE EACH OTHER ON THE PLAYGROUND AND WE DID YOU WOULD PICK ME TO BE ON YOUR TEAM PLAYING BALL. YOU WOULD LET A GOOD PLAYER GO AND PICK ME SO I WOULDN'T BE THE LAST TO BE PICKED BECAUSE I COULDN'T RUN,AND JUMP AND PLAY AS WELL AS THE OTHER KIDS. YOU KNOW YOU DON'T THINK OF SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT AT THE TIME BUT YOU SURE DO LATER. YOU KNOW I NEVER WAS EASY TO MAKE FRIENDS BUT I KNEW I ALWAYS HAD ONE THAT WOULD BE THERE AND PLAY WITH ME NO MATTER WHAT.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THAT FRIEND.YOU DONE ALOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT FOR ME. WE BOTH GOT MARRIED HAD KIDS AND THEN DIVORCED BUT I ALWAYS KNEW ALL I HAD TO DO WAS JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL YOU SURE WISH I COULD DO THAT TODAY.BUT YOU KNOW IT HELPS ALOT JUST KNOWING YOU ARE NO LONGER IN PAIN OR HURTING ANYMORE. ROWDY YOU WERE ALWAYS THE BEST FRIEND I EVER HAD AND WILL EVER HAVE. I TALK TO YOU EVER NIGHT WHEN I GO TO BED HOPE YOU HEAR ME. I'M GOING TO TRY TO STAY BUSY TODAY I DON'T LIKE HAVING A BIRTHDAY BY MYSELF.I'VE GOT SOME CALLS WISHING ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY I KNOW IN THEIR WAY WISHED YOU ONE TOO. ROWDY I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND STARS AND BACK AGAIN. I THINK I'LL GO FOR NOW AND GET BUSY. ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY HEART AND THOUGHTS. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN. LOTS OF LOVE FROM YOUR TWIN,SISTER,AND FRIEND ALWAYS.LOVE YA SISSY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

kay settlemyre

April 23, 2011

hey rowdy,
its me again. been awhile sorry about that.been taking aunt pat and mickey to the doctor trying to help out when i can.it don't make up for what i didn't do for u but maybe it will help.iwanted to tell you happy easter and hope all of you up there will enjoy being together and have a great easter. i know u know rachel,bernice,hannah and the kids are going to the beach today for bernice's and jerrica's birthday. i hope they all have a great time they deserve it. i sure do miss you alot and i think of you everyday. it so hard i wish i could make it easier for everybody. you should be here with us but i am glad you are hurting any more and the best thing is you get to see mom,dad,quinn and granny everyday.somedays i just want to give up. you will always be in my heart and memories.thank god for all the memories i have.i wish i could make you a banana puddin for easter. you always enjoyed all the dinners we had. i hope everyone has a good easter.russ and me may go up to rusty for easter but not sure. you are in my dreams sometimes but i don't understand all of them.but i still enjoy dreaming and thinking of you.thanks for watching over all of us.you are our angeland always will be.rowdy i'm goin go for now just always remember i love with all my heart hope you know that.wish i had proved it more to you. you were the best twin ever.i'm goin to need your help on our birthday because i have never had a birthday by myself.but i promise you i will thinking of you all day that day and wishing you were here with me.i love you and think of you everyday. be back soon to talk to you.love you always and forever by for now.love sissy

Daddy's Girl

March 29, 2011

Daddy,
I Cant believe that you've been gone 3 months now.I swear time flies no matter how hard we try to slow it down. Well I got the Honda sold, now I'm working on the truck and motorcycles. I hope you dont hold it against me but Im doing what I have to in order to get these bills paid. Thank you for being in my dream this morning...although Ive cried all day. Im coming to terms with everything but its gonna take a long time. I cant believe Im writing to you online, it just doesnt seem right...well Im gonna go cause Im cryin again and I said I wasnt gonna do this. I Love You.

Hannah Welch (Poteat)

March 28, 2011

Uncle Ray,
Where do I even begin? Its been 3 months, I haven't had the guts to get on here until now. Christmas eve I woke up and I knew something wasn't right. Then I got a call from mom. I prayed all the way to the hospital that it wasn't too late that you weren't gone (same as I done with Quinn). When I got there I sat by your bedside and just held your hand and squeezed it. I was hoping that it would be like in the movies and it would bring you back. :/ I don't know what to do. I see rachel hurt every day. And all she wants is to help everyone else through this. I wish I could take her pain away. Her heart is so big.
I try to be strong but its so hard. I wanted my kids to know the man who helped me through a lot physically and mentally. You know you were the first person that we told I was pregnant with the 2nd baby! By the way its a boy! He's named after you. His name is Raidyn but calling him Ray for short.
There so much I wanna say but its all jumbled in my head, and can't figure it all out! I know Quinn's face was priceless when he seen you come through the Gate. You were just like a father to me. You were so great to me and I didn't come see you or talk to you as much as I should have these last few years! I'm sorry. The years before when I was young, it was so great with you. I have great memories with you that I will hold dear to my heart.
You were there when it mattered the most. Guess what? I'm officially done with school. I go back in June to walk stage. When I was told that I had completed my journey I started thinking who would be at my graduation. I wanted so badly to pick up the phone and call to invite you. I know you would be proud of me. You always stood by me no matter what.
I'm gonna go for now I will write again soon. Please help your children and kay through this. I know all of your brothers and sisters are hurt but you and kay had a strong bond that only twins have.

kay (sissy) settlemyre

March 20, 2011

hey rowdy its just me. sorry its been so long since i talk to you. i went to dalton's birthday party yesterday. i was so glad they called and invited us, he had a good birthday, it was at your house, sure was hard being there and you not there. you know jennifer and dalton is living there i know thats what you wanted but to me it will always be your house. it was so hard going in and seeing your carolina,and racing stuff gone and your pictures off the wall,and then some of your stuff still there. i done good holding it together in front of your kids but on the way home i lost it. you should have been there you left us to soon. rowdy i haven't forgot you and never will but i try to go on if i let it it would drive me crazy because i miss you so much. ever time i see a red truck i still look to see if is you. i wish i could see you pull in the driveway and get out.i know you loved your kids and they love you they seem to do pretty good.it still don't seem real. i still want to call you sometimes and tell you something god i wish i could. i hope you know i love you so much i wish i had more time with you. i would spend more time with you and done more to help you.rachel is alot stronger than i am she alot like you in alot of ways.i hope you and your kids know how much i love them. i'm goin to but me a carolina flag and fly it for you.rachel gave me a carolina sweatshirt that someone had got you i wear it sometimes.rowdy thanks for watching over our family and keeping us safe. tell mom and dad,quinn,and granny hey and that i love and miss them so much.hey don't forget to tell uncle pross that to. rowdy please keep your wings wrapped around dub and mickey they are going threw alot of stuff right now. i wish there was something i could do to help them. i wish i could turn back time and bring you back to us but bring you back out of pain and no sickness.i know we didn;t see each other awhole lot you were always busy and i was always just at home but we both knew the other one was always just a phone call away,now most of the time i fell all lone,well a part of me is gone.rowdy don;t worry i'm doing pretty good i guess.wayne and dean csme up and stayes for a few days this pasted week they are doing pretty good too.hey russ finally got his blazer fixed last week.your blazer is stil down here russ told rachel she could leave it parked down here.well rowdy i guess i'll go for now but i'll be back soon. love you to the moon and back again and again. i keep you in my heart always and forever.hey meaty miss you alot too. love and miss you so much.gone for now but not forever. you are my heart love you.

Rachel Gulledge

February 12, 2011

Here's me and Ray

Rachel Gulledge

February 12, 2011

You and Little Ray

Rachel Gulledge

February 12, 2011

You were very happy here!!

Rachel Gulledge

February 12, 2011

You were asleep and Amanda was playing with ya!!

Rachel Gulledge

February 12, 2011

kay settlemyre

February 3, 2011

hey rowdy,
first i want you to know that i haven't forgot you and i never will.i been busy visiting dub in the hospital and then in the nursing home.i didn't do what i should have done with you
so i am trying hard to do what i should with dub. i wish i had the chance to help you out and i'm really sorry for that.i know it won't make up for not doing for you but just maybe i can help dub in some way.rowdy i love and miss you so much. rachel has got alot going on i wish i could help her.she is really a good woman and i love her very much.i love all your kids wish i could see ray jr. more.i remember things we done as kids and as we grew older i love my memories. please keep watching over all of us.its real had knowing you aren't here but my memories seem to be helping. i love you and miss you more everyday. i need to go for now but not forever. i keep you in my heart everyday.love you to the moon and stars and back again and again.wrap your wings around all of us and keep us safe. be back soon.love sissy

joann payne

January 19, 2011

thanks ray for the two great kids we had you know i never forgot you you were my first love rest in peace forever,joann

kay settlemyre

January 19, 2011

hey rowdy its me again.i still can't believe you are gone.i miss you so much.things don't seem real anymore.theres been several times i think i got to call rowdy and tell him this.i am so sorry i didn't call you everyday or come to see you know more than i did.there was no reason why i couldn't i just didn't and i will never forgive myself for that.i'd give anything for the chance to do it now. i hope someday you can forgive me for not doing more for you.losing everyone we have lost was hard but losing you is the hardest its like losing part of me.please help me i don't know what to do.i fill so empty without you. theres nothing i want to do anymore i'm just here.i wish so much that i could take your kids pain away they are hurting so bad.i wish i could do something for them to make it go away.i wish i could bring you back to us.rowdy i hope you knew how much i loved you and always will.i know you know dalton broke his arm the other day but he's ok i seen him yesterday rachel came by when she picked him up from school.he knows you are watching over him and you love him more than life itself.today is russ's birthday and i am going to cook us a steak and salad for supper wish you were here to eat with us.rachel is trying hard but she's got a long road ahead of her i wish i could make things easier for her i don't know what to do to help her she misses you so much and is hurting so bad.please help me to help her.i wish the pain would go away i want you back with me.i want us to have more birthdays together.i want to get your medicine and bring it to you and bring you my left over supper.rowdy please help me i miss you so much. i know someday we will be together again but i wish it was today i want you here with us.i miss your funny stories and jokes.i bet meaty missesyou picking at her.rowdy thanks for watching over all of us and keep doing it ok we need you to.i love you more than you could ever know.i was always proud to be your sister hope you proud to be my brother.tell everyone hey for me and that i love and miss them. i will keep you in my heart forever and ever. got to go for now but not forever.love and miss you more and more everyday. love ya sissy

c.s gordon

January 12, 2011

hi uncle ray i miss u and am sorry that i was not there to help and talk the last few years, anyway u were great to me and when i was little, u were like a dad to me, thanks for everything. love ya. lil ray, daulton and rachel u can all call me. just ask aunt kay for my number. hugs to u all love cuz charlie

Rachel Gulledge

January 6, 2011

Daddy,
I know it's took me a long time to be able to leave you a message on here. I know you wouldn't like seeing me the way I've been lately but I can't help it, it hurts so bad. My heart is broken, I'm mad, I'm sad, I truly don't know how to even function without you. I know you would tell me it's part of life Rachel move on, but I can't.It's been 2 weeks and I still feel the same as I did on Christmas Eve.Tell me what to do Daddy, tell me how to get over this, tell me what to say to Dalton.I wake up thinking about you and go to bed thinking about you.I think back and wonder what if you wouldn't have had the surgery and took your chances, would you still be with us today? I have no regrets though, none at all. I just wish Dalton could've had the time with you that I did. Lil Ray being the same old Lil Ray, but Brianna was there. And with luck she's gonna be here forever. My heart breaks for Kay,Neice,Mickey,Dub,WAyne and Bobbie but what can I say to them when my hearts broke too.And Hannah, God love her, you was just like her Dad. You are loved and missed by many but noone more than me. I promise I'm gonna do everything the way you wanted it done. It just doesn't seem real, I wait on you to call or pull up or something and you haven't. It's gonna take me a long time,if ever, to get over this.It's not fair to Dalton, he only got 10 years with you.I got 33 but it still hurts so bad!!!Tell everyone that I said hello and I miss them. Lead me in the right direction as the days ahead come, cause I'm gonna need it. You know that I loved you and I know that you loved me, there's no mistaken that but please watch over Dalton and the Grandkids...smack em in the head when you can. No Regrets!!!!
With Love,
Daddy's Little Girl

kay settlemyre

January 3, 2011

hey rowdy its just me.just wanted to say i love you and miss you very much. i know i didn't talk to you everyday but i sure wish i had. hope you,mom,dad,&quinn had a great new years. rowdy just wanted to say i will help take care of your kids all i can. i know they miss you very much, they loved you more than you know. its really hard on them well all of us.please remember i will always love you. i love to hear all the funny stories your friends are telling. rowdy please watch over payton and russ for me.give all the family a hug and kiss for us love you and talk to you later.gone for now but not for ever. love sissy

kay settlemyre

January 1, 2011

rachel,little ray & dalton i want all of you to know that i will always be here for you.you all seem like my own kids.i will help any of you any way i can.i hope you all know how much i love you. i'm so sorry for the loss of your daddy. i hope you all know how much i loved him and always will.if there is anything i can do or help you with please please let me know.rowdy was my backbone but i will try to be strong for all of you.i love you all very much. please don't forget about me now that rowdy is gone he would want us to stay apart of each others life.my heart breaks for all of you.love you always and forever love aunt kay

kay settlemyre

January 1, 2011

hey rowdy sorry its took me so long to be able to come on here.you are my other half. you were the better,strong,funnier half. rowdy i miss you so much. i wish i could see you one more time to tell you I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.i want to tell you merry christmas and happy new year. i am so glad i got to see you thursday and give you your christmas present (by the way rachel gave it back to me). i think you would have loved your service it was really you. we wore carolina shirts and your flowers were carolina colors.it was beautiful.rowdy i will never forget all the things and times you helped me and russell out.i thank you so much for that.i new all i had to do was pick up the phone and call you and you would be there.i will do anything i can to help rachel,little ray,dalton through this. i will miss you so much.wish i had done more to help you,i am so sorry i didn't do more please forgive me.i can't imagine a birthday without you.nothing will ever be the same now. i love you so much i hope you knew that.there are so many things i wish i had said and done for you.you are my backbone i hope i can go on with life because i know you would want me to but its so hard.i will keep you in my heart forever.i put a picture of us with you. i love all my family but you were the special one.they are all special but you know what i mean. i know mom is glad to see you again.tell mom,dad,granny,quinn,grandpa gordon i said hey and that i love and miss them all.someday we will all get to be together again.its so hard to talk to you like this.wayne is so sorry he couldn't be here,he is still having some trouble don;t know what it is.i will never ever forget you and will always miss you.you sure did have alot of friends and people who loved you.richard smith gave a great talk about you,you would have been proud of him. love you to the moon and stars and back again and forever.i will go for now but not forever.love you with all my heart.i will always remember the good and funny things you done,don't ever forget me please. love your twin sister sissy.

Scott Hensley

December 30, 2010

Dalton, Pam and I are so sorry for the loss of your Daddy. We can't be with you today, but you are in our thoughts and prayers. Scott and Pam

jerrica Gulledge

December 29, 2010

I also want to say pawpaw im waiting for you to call bryan so I can have a askus to come over and i hope i come to heaven with you

Russell Settlemyre

December 29, 2010

Ray,you were a wonderful and caring friend and will surely be missed.

Jerrica Gulledge

December 29, 2010

Pawpaw i love you soooooo much!I can't wait to see you again.And dalton took Tiny. Dalton misses you deeply and i do to. Just wanted to tell you i love you

WENDY ALLISON

December 29, 2010

BIG RAY WAS A GREAT FATHER AND FRIEND HE WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH!! I KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED HIS FAMILY HE TALKED ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS!!

Ray Gordon Jr.

December 29, 2010

It still doesn't seem real to me. I'm still waiting for my phone to ring and you be on the other end asking me to come over and watch a football or basketball game with you. I love you so much and miss you even more. You were all I had for a long time it was just me and you and we had a lot of fun and did a lot of fun things together. I'll try my best to do the same for Dalton and to tell him the memories I have of our time together. I love you and I'll miss you Daddy. Tell Grandma, Quinn, Grandma Rainwater and Chris we all miss them to.

Dalton with his Daddy on his first day of kindergarden.

Jennifer Hensley

December 29, 2010

Ray, you are going to really be missed. I am so grateful that we became good friends again. You were a great friend and a WONDERFUL Daddy. Dalton loves you so much. He is crazy about you. I don't know how in the world I am going to raise him by myself without you. You were so good with him. I PROMISE you that I will do everything I can to keep your family and friends and ACTIVE part of Dalton's life. This is just so unfair. My heart breaks for Dalton, Rachel, Lil Ray, Melissa and Tyler. You were a good man. I know you will be looking down watching him grow up and I promise to do my very best to make him into the man you would want him to be. You enjoy JESUS and we will see you when we get there.

December 29, 2010

Dalton, I am so sorry you lost your Dad, but know that he is with God. I talked with your Dad at your Great Uncle Dale's funeral. He was always pleasant and friendly, and I'm sorry for your loss.
Love,
(Great) Aunt Connie

Cathy Teems

December 28, 2010

Big Ray I will miss You! I played the Dance For You!!

AMY WOOTEN

December 28, 2010

RACHEL AND LIL RAY IM DEEPLY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS! IVE BEEN IN THIS FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE MANY MEMORIES THAT I HOLD DEAR TO MY HEART! BIG RAY I KNOW YOUR IN HEAVEN SMILEIN DOWN AT ALL OF US! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE LOVED AND MISSED,BUT NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN! BIG RAY WAS ONE OF THE SWEETEST PERSON ANYONE WILL HAVE EVER MET! AND TO RACHEL I LUV YOU WITH ALL MY HEART WEVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS 4 MANY YEARS AND I'LL ALWAYS BE HERE 4 YOU! LOVE YOU ALL WITH ALL MY BEIN! GOD BLESS U ALL AND ILL KEEP U IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS! RIP BIG POPPA!

Rick Walker

December 28, 2010

When "Rowdy" was young we dropped him off a friend of his who was handicapped. Ray went over there to play with him friend despite the condition his friend was in. That's the kind of heart Ray had and he will be sorely missed. His girth was surpassed by the size of his heart.

Great aunt to Dalton, Madeline Marsh

December 28, 2010

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Rick Walker

December 28, 2010

I remember when "Rowdy" was younger. He would go to a friend of his in Stanley who was handicapped and play with him. I remember us dropping him off. That's the kind of heart he had. He'll be sorely missed....

Lynne Hopper

December 28, 2010

So sad to hear of Ray's death. I always knew him to be a kind, gentle man, and good friend. I knwo he loved his family deeply. My prayers are with you.

Cathy Teems

December 28, 2010

Ill Miss You Big Ray, I played the Dance for you !!!

Harry Ward

December 28, 2010

I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of "Rowdy" he will be truly missed by all,will keep the family in our thoughts and prayers.

BRYAN ALLEN

December 28, 2010

"BIG RAY" WAS A VERY FUNNY MAN HE WILL GREATLY BE MISSED BY MANY! WE LOVE YA BIG RAY KEEP THAT CRAZY SMILE GOIN UP THERE IN HEAVEN AND WAIT FOR US ALL BRO!! LOVE YA RACHEL, RAY, AND DALTON IF U GUYS NEED ANYTHING GET A HOLD OF ME!

Deana Taylor

December 28, 2010

Rachel and Ray I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family at time. If you need anything at all, please let us know.

Lynn Stewart McSwain

December 28, 2010

My heart goes out to you Ray, Rachel, Russell and the entire family. Big Ray was a great father, brother, uncle, and friend to many. He will be greatly missed. The town of Stanley has lost a very important person. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers at this time of grieving. Please let me know if there is ANYTHING that you need or anything I can do. May God keep you close and help you all through this tough time.

Stephen and Elizabeth Carr

December 28, 2010

Rachel and Ray we are so sorry to hear about your dad. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

willis morgan

December 28, 2010

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

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