Ray McElhaney Obituary

MCELHANEY, RAY - 80, of Rutledge, passed away on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Knoxville. He was a member of Rutledge Baptist Church, and a lifelong resident of Grainger County. He was in the Air National Guard from 1951 to 1953, and for 40 years he was the executive director of Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority. Ray was a board member of the East Tennessee Development District, Chairman of Volunteer Housing; a member of Rutledge City Council for 35 years, and a member of the Grainger County Industrial Board for 30 years. He worked tirelessly his entire life to bring jobs, education, and housing to East Tennesseans. He never retired because he said his work was never finished. He was the recipient of the Grainger County Person of the Century Award. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Nora (Milton) McElhaney; sister, Hazel McDevitt; and brother, Roy McElhaney. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Erva (Bridges) McElhaney of Rutledge; daughter, Karen McElhaney of Knoxville; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Ida McElhaney of Sevierville; grandchildren, Aislinn and Camden McElhaney; sister and brother-in-law, Ruby and Jack Hodge of Corryton; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 8:00 P.M. Sunday, April 4, 2010 in the chapel of Smith-Reagan Funeral Home in Rutledge, with Rev. Chan Vinson and Rev. Betty Shirley officiating. The family will gather Monday, 10:45 A.M. at Grainger Memorial Gardens for an 11:00 A.M. graveside service. Members of Ray's Sunday School class will serve as honorary pallbearers. The body will lie in state Sunday from 12:00 until 5:00 P.M., and the family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. prior to services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Rutledge Baptist Church, P.O. Box 241, Rutledge, Tennessee, 37861. Arrangements by Smith-Reagan Funeral Home of Rutledge, Tennessee

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Published by Knoxville News Sentinel on Apr. 4, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Ray McElhaney

12 Entries

Sandie Shaver

April 8, 2010

We've lost a wonderful advocate for "the average man" with Ray's death. He was tireless in pursuing eonomic opportunities for Grainger County and the entire region. Through his leadership at Douglas Cherokee, he provided opportunities for folks from pre-school through adulthood; he was tireless in providing community services that improved peoples' lives. He was a true Southern Gentleman and I will miss his smile and his ever-planning mind. I never saw him when he wasn't planning his next big project! I will miss that!
-Sandie Shaver, former employee

Sherry Speegle Ellis

April 7, 2010

Please accept my sincerest sympathy for your loss. I saw Mr. Ray just a few weeks ago at the funeral home for my cousin and he told me a cute joke. We shared a good laugh which I will remember him by.

April 7, 2010

Deepest sympathy, Mike, to you and your family. Sincerely Kip Powell
Riverpark Apts.

April 6, 2010

Dear Erva, Karen, and Mike,
Kerry & I were so sorry to hear of Ray's passing. We were out of town. Ray was such a blessing to Rutledge Baptist Church and to the community of Rutledge. He will be greatly missed by Grainger and the surrounding counties. Our thoughts and prayers will be with all of you during this time.
May God Bless you.
Kerry, Zel, Wesleigh, Alexandra, and Nigel Bond

Al and Joyce Daugherty

April 6, 2010

Erva, Karen and Mike we are so sorry to hear about Ray's death. We were out of town during that time and didn't get to express our sympathy. Ray will be missed in many ways. May God give you comfort in the fact that he made life better for so many people.

April 6, 2010

To Ray's family.
This is from Tom Rone at the Knoxville HUD Ofice.My sympathy is extented to you at this time. Ray and his work meant a lot to this office and to me. As I sit here typing this I am looking at a picture of Ray and I at a grand opening of one of his projects. I will always remember him and his good works. May God bless.

April 4, 2010

ERVA SO SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS PLEAS KNOW TTHAT OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU. RICHARD AND JOYCE WALLACE (PORT ST LUCIE, FL)

Amanda Gentry

April 4, 2010

The following message is from Jean Cameron (my mother; in Rutledge):
"My condolences to the family. Mr. McElhaney worked tirelessly for Grainger Co. and its people. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."

From what my Mom has told me and from my work at ETHRA, Mr. McElhaney will be greatly missed by the entire Lakeway area.

May God Bless you all during this very difficult time.

Donna Stansberry

April 4, 2010

Ray meant a lot to me and to Grainger County. He was an avid supporter of workforce development and served on our Smoky Mountain Area Workforce Board since the program began. He will be greatly missed by us and all who knew and loved him. May God bless you, his family.

April 4, 2010

Erva,our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless you and your family.
Lola Wright and the Oklahoma McElhaneys.

Claire Welch

April 4, 2010

Mr. McElhaney was always a perfect gentleman, wholly devoted to making the world a better place. I was not fortunate enough to have much personal contact with him, but I had heard of his good works for many years, and enjoyed our brief contacts.
He will be remembered for his service to his community for many years.

Diann Foister

April 4, 2010

I am so sorry for your loss. We who knew Mr. Ray has lost a great friend and wonderful boss. He was one of a kind, one to be remembered and not soon forgotten especially for those of us who work with a branch of the agency. You family will be in my prayers.

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