Charles 'Charlie' Harry Ray

Charles Charlie Harry Ray, son of the late Guss and Eva (Kirkpatrick) Ray, was born on October 22, 1917 in Diehlstadt, Missouri and departed this life on October 8, 2014 in Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, Missouri at 96 years of age.

Charlie graduated high school in Diehlstadt, Missouri. He married Catholine Burton on July 4, 1934 in Charleston, Missouri.

Charlie started his working career at a grocery store in Charleston, Missouri, eventually becoming the owner prior to World War II. Charlie was drafted into the Army, serving in Pattons Army during the Battle of the Bulge and the push of the allied forces into Germany.

After the war, Charlie and Catholine again owned a country store in their hometown of Diehlstadt, which they operated into the early 1950s. Charlie began his employment with Brown Shoe Company in Charleston, Missouri. In 1956, the Ray family moved to Mountain Grove, Missouri to continue in his work with Brown Shoe as a department foreman. He eventually completed his tenure with Brown Shoe, traveling to many different plants, solving shoe manufacturing problems.

Charlie had a great love of Gospel music, singing in various quartets. He was also a self-taught piano player and guitar picker in the style of Chet Atkins. Charlie loved his cars and chronicled his life according to the car he owned at the time.

After retirement from Brown Shoe, Charlie and Catholine traveled in their RV to visit friends and family, fish, and attend Southern Gospel events.

After Catholines passing, Charlie continued being an encourager and supporter to others. He did this directly and through prayer for his church family at First Christian Church and people in the Mountain Grove community.

Besides his parents, Charlie was preceded in death by his wife: Catholine Ray on March 20, 2001; one brother: Logan Ray; two sisters: Frieda Ray and Rosalee Kline; and by one grandson: Chris Ray.

He is survived by two sons: Larry Ray and his wife, Glenda, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Derrel Ray of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; two daughters: Sylva Bryant of Bradenton, Florida, and Libby Roth and her husband, Andy, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; one sister: Reverta Hays of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; eight grandchildren: Paula Bryant and her husband, Troy, Dan Bryant and his wife, Carla, Sonya Ray, Shane Ray and his wife, Teresa, Lou Ann Haney and her husband, Nate, Cassie Rice and her husband, Doug, Mandy King and her husband, Dustin, Ashley Thompson and her husband, Matt; nineteen great-grandchildren, and many other friends and family who miss him very much.


Visitation: Sunday, October 12, 2014 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.

Funeral Services: Monday, October 13, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the First Christian Church in Mountain Grove, Missouri.

Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery, Mountain Grove, Missouri

Memorial Contributions: Donor's Choice