Robert Ray

Biography

Robert T. Ray, 78, of McCook died Thursday (April 14, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook.

On January 20, 1927 he was born to Clark Calvin and Anne (Webb) Ray in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Hayward High School in Hayward, California in 1945.

Bob, as his friends called him, served with the United States Marine Corp during World War II, and fought on the island of Okinawa. He served on occupation duty with the Marines in China. He later served with the 1st United States Infantry Division in Germany. He also served with the 213th Field Artillery, C Battery in Korea. He was involved in three battles in the Korean Conflict. He later joined the United States Air Force, serving in France, the United States, and Japan. While in Japan he went on tour of duty in South East Asia and was involved in three different battles in the Vietnam War. In 1969 he came back to the United States and retired from the military.

While serving in France, Bob married Avis Nelson in Zurich, Switzerland on June 6, 1957. They lived overseas, and when Bob retired from the military, they moved to McCook, Nebraska.

After retiring from the military, Bob worked as a self-employed carpenter and for the State of Nebraska Historical Society as the curator at both the Norris Home in McCook and Neihart Center in Bancroft. When Bob retired from the State Historical Society, he moved back to McCook, and since 1991, has owned Bob's Books presently in the old DeGroff's building.

Bob was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served as Branch President in 1977 and 1978. He was the current president of the McCook Kiwanis and served as Lt. Governor of District 24. He was a member of the State Historical Society, and was a charter member of both our local Genealogical Society and the State Genealogical Society. Bob was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bob believed in supporting our local government, and he was elected to the McCook City Council and served on the park board.

Preceding him in death were: his parents; two brothers, Bert and Clark, and one sister, Marion Ruby.

Survivors include: his wife, Avis of McCook; one son, Robert and wife, Dacrus, and three grandchildren, Daniela, Adam, and Jessica of Aurora, Colorado; two sisters, Maxine Lukins of Santa Clara, California and Kathleen Smith and husband, Alan, of Eureka, California.

Memorials may be given to the Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society.

Funeral services will be Monday (April 18, 2005) at 10 a.m. at the Carpenter Breland Funeral Home with President Steven Shaner of the McCook Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officiating.

Burial will be at Fort McPherson at 2:30 PM, with the North Platte Veteran's Honor Guard.

Friends may sign his book at the funeral home or may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend condolences.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.