Kenneth E. Ray

REV. KENNETH RAY ASHEVILLE—Rev. Kenneth E. Ray, age 82, of 560 Aiken Road, died Wednesday, March 4, 2009. Rev. Ray was born May 23, 1926, in Yancey County and was a resident of Buncombe County for most of his life. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army. He was formerly employed at Talman's Office Supply. Rev. Ray had been in the ministry since 1976. Rev. Ray has pastored at Brown's Chapel Baptist Church for the last 15 years. He also served several other local churches. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Celia Metcalf Ray; his first wife, Doris Ray, who died in 1993; brothers, Lida and Rupert Ray; and sisters, Lena McPeters, Ruth Ray, and Kate Ray. Surviving are his wife of 15 years, Mary Irene Ray; daughter, Teresa Mason and husband Buck of Burnsville; stepchildren, Kathy Tipton and husband Danny of Rogersville, Tennessee, and Jani Kincaid Medlin and husband Cory of Nashville, Tennessee; sister, Faye McPeters of Walnut; grandchildren, Scott and Brandy Mason, Aaron and Jennifer Mason, Kelly Young and husband Aaron; step-grandchildren, Candace Fletcher and husband Daniel, Ashley Charron and husband Jeff, and Jordan Etters; great grandchildren, Creed Young, Jason, Hannah and Noah Mason, and Brionna Fletcher. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Burnsville, of which he was a member, with Revs. Davy Shelton and Roy McPeters officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville, where the body will remain until placed in the church one hour prior to the services. At other times the family will be at the residence. www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com