  Mrs. Frances E. Ray 1857 - 1929 Dr. Alfred J. Ray 1850 - 1936 The Whitewright Sun Thursday, February 27, 1936 pg. 1 FUNERAL FOR DR. A.J. RAY HELD WEDNESDAY Funeral services for Dr. Alfred Judson Ray, pioneer physician, who died at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, were held at 3 o'clock Wednesday from the First Baptist Church with the pastor, Rev. G.C. Ivins, in charge, who was assisted by Rev. J.L. Truett and Dr. J.F. Fender. The burial service was held at the City Cemetery and was conducted by the Masons. He had been a Mason for over a half century, and was the oldest past master of the Ashley A.F. and A.M. Lodge at Bailey. Active pallbearers were Sid Smith, Bonham; Carl May, Guy Hamilton, Jim Williams, W.L. Kincaid, John Reeves and R.C. Vestal. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. R. May, J.B. Dickson, C.W. Pope, T.J. Lilley, Dr. Ross R. May, W.T. Simmons, R.L. Johnson, J.H. Waggoner, P. Janway, and J.C. Gillespie. Dr. Ray was born July 30, 1850, in Kentucky, son of Zachariah and Elizabeth Miller Ray. He came to Texas with his parents in 1852. They settled at Kentuckytown, where Dr. Ray grew to manhood. He had been a citizen of Grayson and Fannin counties for 83 years. He graduated in Medicine at the University of Louisville, Kentucky in March 1875. He first practiced his profession at Orangeville, where he operated a drug store. He later moved to Bailey where he operated a drug store in connection with his practice. In 1905 he retired and moved to Whitewright, and for thirty years was one of Whitewright's honored and most highly respected citizens. Dr. Ray was married to Miss Matilda Routh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Routh, pioneer settlers of Fannin County, May 15, 1878. She died August 4, 1882. He was married again in 1884 to Mrs. Francis Ray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Bell, also of Fannin County. She died in 1929. Dr. Ray had been a member of the Baptist Church for sixty-six years, and for sixty years was a deacon. He was one of the founders of the Baptist Church at Bailey, which was organized in 1887. He was devoted to his church and it is said he was the most liberal contributor to the support of the First Baptist Church here. He contributed $1,000 to the building fund of the church recently. He was also a liberal contributor to the various campaigns sponsored by the Southern Baptist Association. Dr. Ray was a man of strong convictions. He lived and practiced what he thought to be right. He was a lifelong prohibitionist and was active in its cause. The Ray family was founded in America by William Ray, great-great-grandfather of Dr. Ray, who emigrated to this country from England. Dr. Ray's father was born in Kentucky and was a successful planter. He had eight children, Dr. Ray being the youngest son. Only one of the family survives, a sister, Mrs. J.W. McComb of Jacksboro. Besides his sister, Dr. Ray is survived by a son, Dr. John A. Ray, member of the faculty of Washington University, St. Louis; and two nieces, Misses Inez and Gladys Ray of Whitewright. He also has several nephews and nieces residing in other sections of the State. Among the out-of-town relatives and friends attending the funeral service were Dr. and Mrs. J.W. McComb, Mrs. John D. McComb, Mrs. Stella M. Conner, Jacksboro; Mrs. John Freeman and Mrs. Thompson, Leonard; Mr. and Mrs. J. Routh, Mrs. Y.B. Reed, Trenton; Mr. and Mrs. J.N. Fain, Sherman; Mrs. Maggie Riley, Mrs. John S. Ray, Greenville; Mrs. Tom McDowell, Mrs. Fred Newman, Mrs. Dennis Bales, Mr. Rogers, Sid Smith, Mrs. Winfield Sifford, Bonham; Wm. Smith, Walter Garrison, Mrs. Willie Sifford, Fred Hale, Bailey.   John Author Ray 14 July 1879 - 22 August 1977 Corporal Troop G 1st Texas Volunteer Cavalry Spanish-American War  Whitewright City Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |