Royce Ray

1959 - 2023

MSG Royce Ray (U.S. Army - Ret.) passed away on July 8th, 2023 at his home in Las Vegas, NV.



Royce was a proud father, soldier, U.S. Army Veteran, and Paskenta Nomlaki Tribal Member. Royce was born in Red Bluff, CA on March 6th, 1959, and spent much of his youth on the Round Valley Indian Reservation in Covelo, California, where he graduated from Round Valley High School in 1977.



MSG Ray began his exemplary 23 year service as a U.S. Army Forward Observer (13 Foxtrot) in April of 1982, his operational deployments included: Desert Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard/Joint Forge, Operation Allied Force, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout his career Royce earned the Purple Heart, Army Commendation 7 OCL, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 3 Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Southwest Asia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kosovo NATO Medal, Bosnia NATO Medal 2, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal among others. His Unit Citations include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award and the Valorous Unit Award.



Royce spent much of his career stationed in Germany, including Garlstedt, Friedberg, Bad Kreuznach, Baumholder, and Wiesbaden; his organizations included HHC 1st Armored Division, HHB 4-27 Field Artillery, HHB 2-27 Field Artillery, HHB 4-29 Field Artillery, HHB DIVARTY 1st Armored Division, HHB 4-3 Field Artillery 2nd Armored Division (FWD), HHB 2-82 Field Artillery, HHB 1-20 Field Artillery 1st Cavalry, and HHB 1-21 Field Artillery 1st Cavalry.



MSG Ray retired from the U.S. Army in January of 2005, but continued to serve his country as a Safety & Occupational Health Manager for the D.O.D. with stints in Baumholder, Wiesbaden, USAREUR Headquarters in Heidelberg, as well as duties in Kosovo, Bulgaria and Romania. He resigned his official duties on 12 Feb 2011 and retired to Las Vegas, NV.



Royce was an avid fisherman, traveler, football coach, chili connoisseur, yahtzee player, and Vegas Golden Knights Fan. Royce will be forever remembered for his wild sense of humor, leadership skills, his stubbornness, kindness, compassion for his family and friends, and the immense pride he had in the accomplishments of his three children.



He is survived by his sons Ryan and Keith, daughter Laura, girlfriend Margaret Wood, sisters Elizabeth Norwood, Irene Gutierrez, and brother Richard Garnica, Sr., former spouse Petra Herrmann, 10 nieces, 9 nephews, 13 great nieces, 14 great nephews, and his dog Riley. Royce is preceded in death by his parents Bernice Downey, George Ray, brothers Merle Orr, Ronald Orr, Sr, Stuart Ray, and sister Bernyce Orr.



A Viewing will be held on July 21st, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm at Hall Brothers Corning Mortuary in Corning, CA.



The Funeral Service will be held at a private cemetery near Paskenta, CA on July 22nd, 2023. All who wish to attend the Funeral Service are asked to meet at the Hall Brothers Corning Mortuary at 9:00am on July 22nd, 2023. A funeral procession will lead to the destination near Paskenta, CA. The drive takes approximately 30 minutes.



Food and drink will be provided at the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians Community Center in Corning, CA after the Funeral service at 1:00pm. (22580 Olivewood Ave., Corning, CA 96021). All are welcome.