Evlin "Irene" Ray

Evlin "Irene" Ray passed away in Tavares, Florida on December 16, 2025. She was born on May 15, 1937, in Bell, Florida to William "Gus" and Bessie "Louise" Barker. She loved, and is loved by, a very large family and many friends from her churches, the First Baptist Church of Sumterville and previously the Whitney Baptist Church in Leesburg, as well as friends from the many communities in which she and her husband Bill lived including Countryside RV Park in Lake Panasoffkee. She liked to tease and had an infectious laugh. Irene liked to play cards like Spite and Malice, board games like Mexican Train, and bingo. She loved to read and solve Sudoku puzzles. Irene graduated from a secretarial school in Jacksonville and worked as a secretary/bookkeeper all her life before retiring. Irene is survived by her twin brother Alvin Eugene "Gene" Barker, her younger brother Billy Ray Barker, her youngest sister Ellen Adams Drake, and dozens of nieces and nephews. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Olive Barker Tindall, Virginia Barker Parker, Joan Barker Starkey, and Betty Jo Barker Ballard, her brother Edmund Bennett Adams; and her beloved husband of 34 years William Elias Ray. A visitation will be held at Purcell Chapel on January 5, 2026 from 10:00am-11:00am, with a service to follow at 11:00am. Interment will follow to Florida National Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at https://www.beyersfuneralhome.com/ Arrangements have been entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home- Purcell Chapel, Bushnell, Florida.