Obituary of Ronald "Ronnie" Ray

Ronald (Ronnie) Franklin Ray (55) of Doniphan, Missouri, passed away on June 6, 2013, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Ronald was born in Alton, Missouri, on July 19, 1957, to Alvie and Peggy (Probst) Ray. He was a 1975 graduate of Doniphan High School and also graduated from Linn Technical College. He had worked for Grassham Chevrolet in Van Buren, Missouri, Blackwell-Baldwin in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and most recently Countryside Chevrolet in Doniphan. Ronald was saved at an early age and still attended Handy Union Church. He enjoyed drag racing, race cars, hunting and fishing. His greatest joy was his grandchildren. On February 29, 2004, he married Cindy Tatum O'Neal at Handy Church. Surviving is his wife of the home in Doniphan; 8 children, Misty (Bob) Dale of Doniphan, Nathan Nipper and fiance' (Candis Lee) of Poplar Bluff, Joni Ray and fiancee' (Don Howard) of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Shane (Amy) O'Neal of Doniphan, Kami Ray and fiancee' (Bryan Ortego) of Poplar Bluff, Kelli (BJ) Sisco of Doniphan, Adam Ray and fiance' (Tasha Petigo) of Doniphan and Roni (Nick) York of Doniphan; 8 grandchildren, Eli Dale of Doniphan, Emma Nipper of Poplar Bluff, Addison Ray of Walnut Ridge, Wyatt and Aubree Ray of Potosi, Missouri, Camden York, Isaiah Ray and Layne O'Neal of Doniphan; 3 brothers, James (Linda) Ray of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, Arlin (Clara) Ray of Handy and Danny (Merril) Ray of Doniphan; four sisters, Wanda (Tom) Beckham of Smithville, Tennessee, Anita (Junior) Blackshear of Doniphan, Cynthia (Eric) Walterschied of Doniphan and Rachel (Mark) Knight of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Ronald had 4 special children that called him Papa from Poplar Bluff - Brayden, MaKynna, Jayden and Ayden Cochran. He will be missed by many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and one brother, Don. Visitation for family and friends will take place Sunday evening, June 9, 2013, from 5 - 8 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will be held Monday morning, June 10, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Bob Featherston officiating. Family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to pancreatic cancer research done by Dr. Stephen Strasberg, Ronald's surgeon. Please make checks payable to Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Gil-Gans Pancreatic & Liver Cancer Research Endowment Fund #3249. Please put Ronald F. Ray in memo.