Steven Douglas "Steve" Ray

Steven Douglas Ray was born on April 2, 1971, in Wayne, Michigan. He was the son of Charles Ray and Jean (Salyer) Ray. He attended John F. Kennedy High School in Taylor, Michigan, graduating with the class of 1989.
On August 11, 1995, at the New Life Christian Church in Southgate, Michigan Steve married the love of his life the former Denise Ross and together the couple was blessed with a son, Steven. To provide for his family Steve worked as a carpenter for many years. He later took a position in sales working an additional twenty-five years before retiring in 2024.
Steve was an avid big game hunter traveling throughout the United States and all over the world. His expeditions took him to Thornville, Ohio, West Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, and from Newfoundland to Africa. During his 2023 trip to Africa, he visited places such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Thabazimbi in search of wildebeest, kudo, sable, blesbok, impala, jackal, and nyala. He shot a zebra that he proudly processed into a rug for his granddaughter. Steve loved fishing, whether he was on Lake Erie reeling in perch and walleye, in Anchorage, Alaska hooking a King Salmon, or down in the Bahamas deep sea fishing. He was an expert woodworker who enjoyed surprising his family and friends with hand carved items. Some of his works of art included his granddaughter's crib, a rocking horse, a cigar holder, an ash tray, a bottle opener, noodle board, and even a ukulele all painstakingly handcrafted. His craftsmanship extended to other items such as fixing a deck or building a fence. Steve was an avid gun collector, enjoying afternoons at gun shows. Over the years he amassed a substantial collection even consisting of a Gatling gun.
Steve loved spending time with loved ones. He enjoyed vacations with Denise to Florida, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and a Mexican cruise. He liked giving his granddaughter Paisley rides on the tractor around the property and cherished spending time with his two dachshunds: Duke and Daisy. Steve loved to cook whether he was grilling a hearty steak, deep frying some fish and chips, or making one of his famous country style breakfasts consisting of biscuits and gravy, eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, and bacon. Guests were sure to always leave with a full belly.
Steven Douglas Ray, age 54 of Erie, Michigan passed away at home on Wednesday; April 30, 2025, surrounded by his family and under the care of Hospice of Northwest Ohio. His passing was preceded by his mother: Jean Ray; his paternal grandfather; and maternal grandparents.
To cherish Steve's memory, he leaves a loving wife of twenty-nine years: Denise Ray of Erie, Michigan; a son: Steven (Carrie) Launfull Ray; his father: Charles Ray; a sister: Sandra Kerr; a sister-in-law: Sarah Van Hierden; his paternal grandmother: Wylodean Ray; and a granddaughter: Paisley Ray. He is also survived by three of his son's best friends that thought of him as a second father: Robert Livernois, Jameal Reynolds, and Corry Bitz.
Friends may gather from 2:00pm until 8:00pm on Tuesday; May 6, 2025, and from 10:00am until 11:00am on Wednesday; May 7, 2025, at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe, 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185. A Celebration of His Life will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday also at Merkle's with Pastor Bob Jeannot of New Wine Community Church in Taylor officiating. Cremation will take place through Covenant Cremation of Erie, Michigan, a division of Merkle Enterprises, Inc.
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