Horace A."Papa" Ray

Services for Horace A. "Papa" Ray, 81, of Gilmer will be held 10:00 A.M, Monday, August 29, 2011, at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer, Texas and burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Gilmer. Mr. Ray passed away on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 in Henderson. He was born on August 25, 1929, in Gilmer to Robert Percy and Lula Mae Barrett Ray. Mr. Ray graduated from East Mountain High School and on March 31, 1947 married Wanda Yvonne Day. He was a Borden Milk independent distributor for 33 years, was the Upshur County District Clerk for 14 years until his retirement and a member of the First Baptist Church of Gilmer. Horace "Papa" loved fishing, working on antique clocks and spending time with his family. Mr. Ray is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Lenny and Debby Ray of Longview; three grandchildren, Heath Ray and wife, Angila Ray, Heather Grindle and husband, Fred, and Megan Ray; six great grandchildren, Alexis Ray, Katy Grindle, Collin Martin, Cody Grindle, Lenny Ray and Mason Ray. He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne Ray in 2006 and his grandson, Blake Ray in 2007; brothers and sisters, Norman Ray, Percy Ray, Pauline Price, Irene Pritchet and Hazel Ray. Pallbearers are Blake Brinkman, Chad Brinkman, Kevin Hill, Waylon Harvey, Tommy Bynum and Marc Breedlove. Honorary Pallbearers are Richard Brown, Rex Price and his great grandsons. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.