Note from Contributor Floyd Cooper:  Rev. Ray was the first pastor of the Gravel Ridge Baptist Church.  He married my parents in 1933, and preached my older brother's funeral in 1937.

Rev. A. E. Ray - 1887 - 1966
Rev. A. E. Ray of Sikeston, a retired Baptist ministor, died October 23, 1966in Sikeston at the hospital where he had been a patient two weeks.  He was 79 years old.

Mr. Ray was born March 1, 1887 at Marion, Illinois.  He was ordained a minister in 1925 at Morley and had pastored churches at Blodgett, Morley, Commerce, Sikeston, Miner, St. Marys and St. Louis.  His last pastorate prior to his retirement was at Temple Baptist Church here.

On August 18, 1907, Mr. Ray married Miss Estella Owen.   She survives.

Also surviving are two daughters Mrs. Charles (Lois) Krauss of Sikeston, and Mrs. V. J. (Bertha Mae) King of Albuquerque, N.M.; three sons the Rev. Lawrence Ray of Ironton, Herman Ray of Sikeston and Owen Ray of the state of Texas; two sisters Mrs. Harry Brooks and Mrs. Travis Brooks of Blytheville, Arkansas; 19 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by Nunnelee Funeral Home in Sikeston, services were conducted at First Baptist Church with the pastor Rev. James Hackney officiating, burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston.