DURHAM, NC– John A Ray age 69, died under hospice care at Duke University
Hospital, Durham, NC on Aug 28, 2023. He was born on April 30, 1954 in Johnstown,
PA to the late John ‘Jack’ Ray and Glenna Jean McCowan Marshall.
John was husband to Brenda ‘Bren’ Johnson Ray for 33 years, Dad to John Taylor
’T’ Ray and Samantha ‘Sam/Samish’ Hegedus, pap, brother, uncle and friend. He
was quick-witted, good natured, hardworking, loyal, competitive, honest and
unapologetically himself.
John or Pip as most of his family called him, graduated from Bowie High School in
Bowie, MD in 1972 where the majority of his memories stemmed from football and
the lifelong friends it gave him. John attended the University of Maryland where he
planned to play football until an injury sidelined him. He continued his college
studies and graduated from the University of Chapel Hill Wilmington in 1981 with a
BS in Chemistry, having the top GPA in chemistry two years in a row-with his name
on a plaque in the chemistry building. While earning his degree he worked for
Hardin Construction where he became the foreman for the company. He used the
construction skills endlessly throughout his life to complete renovations and projects
on every home he lived in and for numerous friends as well. After graduating from
UNCW he moved to the Research Triangle Park, NC working for both Union
Carbide Ag/Rhone Poulenc and Glaxo/GW/GSK. He loved chemistry, enjoying the
agricultural and medicinal chemistry fields. Anyone who had the pleasure of
working with him could feel this passion for research and helping on any project he
was assigned or was needed. The friends he made from work quickly became part
of his family, and for John that was more valuable than they would ever know. So
thank you to Todd Craig (Becky), Darryl McDougald (Slava), Cecilia Koble, Istvan
Kaldor (Aniko) and the late M Ross Johnson (Charlotte).
John was the biggest supporter and ‘coach’ for his kids in all their sports, most
notably on the golf course/baseball field for T and on the pool deck/cross country
course for Sam. If he wasn’t on the golf course himself, you could find him at a
monthly poker night w/work friends, on his screened porch listening to oldie classics
and telling his legendary stories of the ‘the good ole days’ or doing lawn/garden
work. John loved animals (we managed to bring home 11 pets as a family) and was
a true dog whisperer. He was one of the lucky ones who always considered work one
of his hobbies (chemistry and construction) and it was a good reminder that if you
love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. John had visited every state
but two (Alaska and Hawaii) and was always fond of any mountain getaway,
whether it be Appalachia Smokey or Rocky Mountains. As a family our vacations
normally boasted trips to PA to visit w/Pip’s family, Smith Mountain Lake, Emerald
Isle/Nags Heads w/friends/extended family, and memorably the Keys for his and
Bren’s 25th wedding anniversary.
John is survived by his wife, Brenda Johnson Ray, his children, Taylor Ray (Belen)
and Sam Hegedus (Ryan), his brother and sisters, Ed Ray (Joni), Tracy Mcevoy
(Bob), Tina McAndrew, Teri McWilliams (Jay), Kelly Marshall (John),
his sister-in-law, Peggy Ray, brother in law George ‘Danny’ Johnson (Christi), his five nieces,
Jesse Previte (Anthony), Mandy Ray, Lyss Jones (Troy), Tori Ellenberger (Adrian)
and Eastan Hutchison and ten nephews, Jason Ray (Katlynn), Josh Ray (Missy),
Tyler McEvoy, Nate McEvoy, Noah McEvoy, Devin McAndrew, Zach McAndrew,
Mason McAndrew, Hunter Grimes and Cody Marshall plus nine great nieces and
nephews. And his extended family the Gramans: Saundra, Roger, Danielle and
Heather. Last but not least John (Pap) had three grandchildren, Leyla Ann Ray,
Maia Lu Ray and Reed John Hegedus, which he called ‘the little ones’ and when he
realized one day that they were his grandchildren he said ‘wow, I’m one lucky guy!’
John was preceded in death by his parents, John ‘Jack’ Ray (Vi) and Glenna Jean
Marshall (Daniel), his brother, Jeff Ray, brother-in-law, Jimmy McAndrew, his late
wife, Rita and his grandma, Mary Bennett ‘Mum Mum’.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in John’s honor to one of the programs below.
Donations can be mailed to:
Lundy Fetterman School of Business
PGA Golf Management
165 Dr. McKoy Road
Buies Creek, NC. 27506
https://business.campbell.edu/undergraduate-programs/pga-golf-management/
And/Or
Duquesne University Athletics in support of the Women’s Swimming and Diving
program. Donations can be mailed to:
Duquesne University Athletics
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
The Ray family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online
condolences: www.hallwynne.com.
We would like our thanks to the UNC Geriatric Team, Dr David Lynch, Bryan
Godfrey and his pallative care nurse, Emily Regan, his care companion Ms Margaret
Dobson, the staff at Calyx Living Memory Care and the Duke University Hospital
ER/Hospice Care team.
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