James Ray Corbett

Obituary
Ray Corbett, born March 10, 1942, slipped away from this life in the early hours of Friday, October 13,2023 leaving behind the family who loves him: wife of 54 years, Vi Corbett, Son Jon, Daughters LeAnne and Caroline, Grandson Morgan Corbett, Granddaughter Audrey Sims.
Ray began his career at the age of 8 when given his very own hammer and followed in the shadows of his father and uncles as they followed the construction trade. As a young man he used the same hammer and also carried brick and mortar as they built the family home in Rockville, Maryland. He did the usual after school jobs like 7 Elevens, food stores, the Park and Planning Commission and was even a caddy at the local Country Club. Besides hard work he believed in education and throughout adulthood he attended classes at night on any subject that caught his many and varied interests. He attended UM to study engineering to help in his interest in construction. But he also had an interest in old cars and studied auto upholstery which led him to become owner/operator of Ray's Custom Shop doing custom upholstery for individuals and DC Metro car shows for several years, at one point even entering a race car and later installing a vinyl top for boxer Joe Frazer. However, construction was his main career love and he returned as owner/operator of JRC Inc a residential construction company working with his crew and team of trusted subcontractors building and renovating houses. This added more schooling in locksmithing, masonry, etc., etc. As he aged, he scaled back to small renovations and decks. Due to failing health he retired in 2013 to move with his wife to Tennessee, a state and people he came to love. But that didn't stop his desire in education. At the age of 81 and before his 4th and final battle with cancer he was making plans to study welding at The College of Applied Technology in Morristown.
He became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1973 and served in several positions. His special love was serving with the young missionaries and volunteer work whether this meant hauling food to the Daily Bread or Kingswood School, serving the National Alliance for Autism Research or using his career skills to repair homes for people unable to pay for this kind of service. He was a true volunteer. Don't you just wonder what our Heavenly Father has him doing on the other side of the veil!
The funeral will be Tuesday October 17, 2023, in the East Chapel of Allen Funeral in Morristown, Tennessee. Visitation will be 5 - 7pm with the service following at 7pm. Private interment will be held in Long and Berry Cemetery, Bulls Gap, TN.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later by Allen Funeral Home.
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