Henry Edward Ray
Henry Edward Ray
Henry Edward Ray
February 16, 1931 – April 15, 2024
Tracy, Iowa | Age 93
Henry Edward Ray, 93, of Tracy, IA went to be with Jesus on Monday, April 15, 2024. He passed at his Tracy home surrounded by family; the same home in which he was born to John and Effie (Lundy) Ray on February 16, 1931.
He graduated from Tracy High School with the class of 1949.
On June 3, 1951, he married the love of his life, Lillian Witt, at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa, IA. They were blessed with two children, Glen and Brenda.
As an early teen, he worked at the family sawmill, stacking lumber and off-bearing (carrying slabs away from the saw). He started driving a lime truck for his dad’s trucking business at age 16, and by age 18 he had learned to run a bulldozer from his older brother Don. For the next 61 years he enjoyed running heavy equipment. Throughout his career he did custom farm work, built roads, stripped overburden for coal mines, and worked on a dirt stripping crew for rock quarries. He retired from running a dozer at the Mahaska County Landfill for the first time at age 66, returning to work there part-time until his final retirement at age 79. He operated a dozer one final time at age 83 when he graded a building site for Tyler and Sarah’s new home.
During his working years and into his retirement, he enjoyed working on, rebuilding, and restoring Wheelhorse Riding Lawn Tractors. He loved woodworking in his shop and built many kids’ tables and chairs, recipe boxes, and numerous other pieces large and small.
In his later years, he loved gardening and canning, especially tomatoes and salsa, and learned how to make homemade noodles from his wife. Henry and Lillian enjoyed playing cards with friends late into the night. He followed his kids and grandkids in all their sports and music activities, entertaining them and their friends at home playing games, and most recently at 92, attending his great granddaughter’s T-Ball and soccer games.
He was raised in the Assembly of God church, was a member of the Tracy United Methodist church for over 50 years where he served on the board and was an integral part for many years on the trustees. Most recently, he was attending Lifehouse Community Church in Oskaloosa.
Henry selflessly gave his time, talents, and resources to the town of Tracy. He was involved in the Tracy Improvement Company and was one of the organizers of the Tracy Water Department, getting quality running water to the town in 1967.
Henry had a strong work ethic and though he had many health issues throughout his life, he never complained. He lavished love on his wife and family consistently and was adored and loved by so many.
Henry is survived by his wife of over 72 years, Lillian Ray of Oskaloosa; a daughter and her husband, Brenda and Mike Christian of Tracy; two grandchildren, Abby (& Glen, Jr.) Harris and Tyler (& Sarah) Christian; a great granddaughter, Caroline Christian; and many nieces and nephews.
Henry was preceded in death by a son, Glen Edward Ray; his parents; four siblings: Mary Ann Kerr, Thelma Mae Calvert, Naomi Ruth Funk, and Donald George Ray.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 1:30 PM in the Tracy United Methodist Church with Reverend Steve Howe officiating.
Burial will be in the Bellefountaine Cemetery near Tracy. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Friday, April 19, 2024, after 11:00 AM in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to Bellefountaine Cemetery.
