Ray E. Ashley's Obituary
Decatur-Ray E. Ashley, 87, of Decatur, passed away Friday, August 12, 2011 at his home.
Mass of Christian Burial to Celebrate Ray’s life will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 3950 Lourdes Dr., with Father Rick Weltin, Celebrant. Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass with a prayer service at 9:45. Interment with military honors and “Flight Home” Ceremony will be at the Resurrection Gardens in Graceland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Ray was born May 19, 1924, in McAlester, Oklahoma, the son of Ray and Bertis Gardner Ashley. He proudly served his country as a mechanic on the B-17 Flying Fortress in the Army Air Corps during W.W.II. He received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He retired from A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. He enjoyed boating, feeding the birds, airplanes, ham radio, photography, and learning and explaining new things to others. He married Joan Gardewine in 1954.
Ray leaves behind his wife of over fifty-six years, Joan, son, Greg Ashley and wife Rachel of Leesburg, Virginia, daughters, Pam Ashley and husband Gene Hess of Dutton, Alabama and Nancy and husband Dr. Joe Sutton of Sidney, Illinois, grandchildren, Elizabeth, David, Nicholas, Matthew, and Sarah, and beloved dog, Laddy.
Ray was reunited in Heaven with his parents and two sisters.
The family of Ray E. Ashley is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services honored provider of Veterans Funeral Care, 2801 N. Monroe St. Decatur, IL. 62526. View the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at: www.moranandgoebel.com.
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