A Celebration of Life Graveside service will be held Saturday, November 22, at Hillcrest Memorial Park, at 10:30 a.m., for Richard Wayne Ray who passed away November 13, 2003.
Wayne was born in Cherokee, OK, to Henry and Daisy Ray. His family moved to Bakersfield, Ca, during the Dust Bowl Era when Wayne was 3 years old. Wayne attended local schools, but left when he was 17 years old to join the Navy, serving his country during the Korean War.
Wayne married his wife, Jean, in November 5, 1954. They raised four children in Bakersfield before retiring and moving to Redding, CA. Wayne and Jean loved to travel in their motor home, taking trips to Hawaii and many cruises to different ports.
Wayne was preceded in death by his father, mother and brother, Bill. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jean; his son, Scott; daughter, Evelyn Equhart and husband, Steve; son, Wade and wife, Viki; son, Wynn and wife, Penelope. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dustin, Brett, Kaitlin, Sarah,
Nathan, Nicholas, Melissa, Lindsay, Keith, Christopher, Brian, Derek, Haley,
Abbie, Daphne, Sonny and husband, J. D. Wolf, Crystal and husband, Tony; sister,
Wilma Brown and husband, David; sister-in-law, Cindy and husband, Tom; great
grandchildren, Aubrynne, Ashley, Lizzie and Richard; numerous nieces, nephews,
aunts, uncles and cousins.
Wayne was a family man to the end. His wife and family were always his most important treasures. We will honor him Saturday for his years of care, love and guidance. He will be missed, but we know the world was a better place because he lived. We love you Pop, Godspeed.
