Obituaries » Mark Randall Ray

March 11, 1950 - May 10, 2022

Mark Randall Ray, 72 years old, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Mark was born in Detroit, Mich. on March 11, 1950, to James Vance Ray and Margie Ellen Whaley. Mark is survived by his loving wife, Linda Louise Ray; his devoted son, Joshua James Ray; his sister, Jamie Sue Gibson and Carl Gibson of Marshall, Mich.; his brother David Keith Ray and Jackie Ray of Dallas, Texas; and nieces and nephew Heather Brinker Grogg of Battle Creek, Mich. and Katie and Matthew Ray of Dallas, Texas.

Mark attended Michigan State University receiving a B.S., Mechanical Engineering from 1968 to 1972 and an M.S., Mechanical Engineering from 1972 to 1974; University of Rochester for Japanese Language and Culture from 1990 to 1991; and University of Phoenix receiving an M.S., Information Technology from 2005 to 2008.

Mark enjoyed working for several employers during his 42 year career. He loved the adventure and challenges presented by each company and new location and loved his time spent in New York, California, Maine, and Texas. The true highlight of his working life was living in England twice, from 1979 to 1980 in London and from 1999 to 2000 in Windsor. Mark loved to travel and study other cultures, customs, and food, and his job took him to many countries including Japan, Korea, Russia, Brazil, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands.

Mark was a gentle and honorable man, a loving and devoted husband and father, who loved life and enjoyed all the opportunities and pleasures which came his way. He loved tending to his garden, woodworking, puzzles, listening to Jazz and Blues music, and loved to read for pleasure and to gain knowledge. He loved baking bread and pizza, brewing beer, and cooking Indian food for his family. He had a special friendship and love for his old MSU friends the “Mudsharks”.

Mark was a devoted husband to his childhood sweetheart, Linda, having their first date at 16 years old and married November 22, 1972. His proudest moment was when his son, Josh, was born. They shared many common interests throughout the years.

“If there ever comes a day

When we can’t be together

Keep me in your heart

I’ll stay there forever”

~A.A. Milne~

P.S. Mark was concerned about the chestnut blight and the survival of the American Chestnut Tree, planting several at his home in the last several years. If you wish to, please plant a tree of your own or donate to the American Chestnut Foundation.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.

Click here to view Mark’s tribute video.

INTERMISSION

There’s a country church I like to visit.
It rests in a farmer’s field and
while the front door is solid,
uneven hinges keep it slightly open–
welcoming.

Slipping inside
I sit quietly, listening,
hearing my breathing and
the crack of a pew announcing its age.
The statues mind their own business.

Aware of unquiet thoughts and
the desire to let them go,
I watch the sun shining through stained glass,
illuminating dust motes and fingerprints
of other travellers.

Silence lives here,
It wraps around me like a coat,
buttoning out the noise of the day,
offering the warmth of
solace and reflection and
reminding me of how
gracefully my brother had lived,
and how, with a final breath,
he opened the door to
the Other Side–
and simply stepped through.

~
Pricilla Dunning
2022

Eulogy by Ed Hargis

Happy 50th Anniversary

Mark Ray
Thank you for
all the Love
I saw in your eyes
every time
our eyes met

Now every day
I shut my eyes
and think of how
you used to
sing softly
into my ear

“There’ll never be
anyone else
but you for me
never ever be
Just couldn’t be
anyone else
But You”

You were everything to me…
a great husband and father
Thank you for the
wonderful life
we lived together.

Condolences & Tributes

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Mark was my friend, engineering classmate at MSU, and fellow “Mudshark.” Because we has lost touch after the early 70s it was delightful to reconnect when Mark and Linda visited Michigan in 2017. After all of those years, I found Mark to still have the smarts, wit, good looks, coolness, and unique sense of humor. Mark and I discovered that we had a mutual interest in beer-making (and of course tasting!) and it was fun to share ideas and recipes. And after the 2017 visit, Mark displayed his artistic talents by making my wife and I a beautiful yard sign featuring our home gardens. This sign will serve as our daily remembrance of Mark. Rest in peace, my friend.

Posted by Mike Koryto on June 26, 2022

Posted by Joshua Ray on June 12, 2022

Linda,Kathy and I were so sad to hear of Mark’s passing,Mark was one of my very first friends when I moved to Rsvl and even with all the time that has passed he will always hold a very special place in my life RIP my Friend.

Posted by Ken Fiott on June 12, 2022

Posted by Joshua Ray on June 12, 2022

So very sorry for Mark's passing. Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Linda and the family. A Special person with Linda and family, will leave many wonderful memories to cherish. Our love to Linda and the family.

Posted by David and Paula Nelms on June 9, 2022

Linda my heart goes out to you & Josh. The picture’s you posted we’re so nice. Mark was a great guy. With Love and Sympathy Pam 💓

Posted by Pam Moljewski on June 9, 2022

Posted by Joshua Ray on June 9, 2022

Mark was the first person to welcome us to the neighborhood. He was always a kind, gentle soul, who brought us homemade bread, and was always quick with a smile. Being dog owners, we loved how me loved Molly and how he cared for her. We miss him and his daily walks with her. My heart goes out to Linda and Josh. Love you much...

Posted by Wendie Sullivan on June 8, 2022

Linda, I am so sorry for your and Joshua’s loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers and you have so many wonderful memories! We have been forever friends and we will continue to be💖. Love you💖

Posted by Rose Nichols (Caruso) on June 6, 2022

I was Mark's friend in high school and roommate in college. I stood next to him when he married the love of his life. In all of the adolescent naive misadventures we shared he never failed to have a sense of humor and a joyous soul. He was like a brother to me and I miss him daily. He was faithful. honest, and a role model for me. Ed Hargis

Posted by Edward Hargis on June 4, 2022

Here are some memories of Mark from Jamie: "My brother, Mark, was a unique individual. Since his passing I have had so many memories flood into my consciousness. Mark and I never had disagreements or harsh words. He was kind and loving and generous. Mark was interested in a lot of different things. He enjoyed making beautiful things in his wood shop. He and my nephew, Josh, made great beer and wine and shared their efforts with me. He loved good movies and loved to read. Mark had a photographic memory. Once when we were at our parents’ house, I was telling my dad about a unit on recycling that I was using with my elementary school class. I remarked that National Geographic had had an article about a man who built a house with nothing but recycled materials and I wished I could find it. Mark was reading a book and never looked up and said, “May 1976” (or whatever it was). Dad had every National Geographic by year and month on a shelf in the basement. I looked and sure enough Mark was right. I pulled the magazine off the shelf and there it was! Mark also knew the lyrics to hundreds of songs. He loved music and told me he always had music in his head. He introduced me to a lot of good music I may otherwise never have heard. The way Mark’s brain worked made him a perfect engineer/problem solver. He was logical and ordered but not stiff and unyielding. When I would get upset about the way people could be he would remind me that everyone was on their own individual journey and we shouldn’t always judge. Not that he didn’t have opinions about things, but he was willing to allow people the space to make mistakes and live their lives like he wanted to live his. Our dad always told us that our rights end where the next guy’s nose began and Mark pretty much lived that tenet. In the coming weeks and months, I will write down all the memories I have of Mark. It will be both difficult and healing. I am not trying to relegate Mark to sainthood. He was human but in the best positive way. I miss him terribly already."

Posted by Joshua Ray on June 3, 2022