Zollie Aubrey Ray
'Buddy'
HICKORY -- Mr. Ray, 60, of Hickory, died Monday, February 4th, 2008 at his residence after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.
A native of Ramer, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Zollie Elbridge Ray and Maxine Stanfield Ray of Cameron, NC. He was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the United States Air Force and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Medal. He attended North Carolina State University, majoring in Furniture Manufacturing and Management and enjoyed a 30-year career in the furniture industry. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Hickory where he served as an elder.
Survivors, in addition to his mother include his wife, Judith Layne Thomas Ray; daughter, Anna Layne Bryant Ray and husband, Derek of Nashville, TN; daughter, Lindsay Kathleen Ray of Hickory; son, Daniel Thomas Ray of Hickory; granddaughters, Eleanor Layne Bryant and Caroline Elizabeth Bryant of Nashville, TN; sisters, Linda Olive of Cameron, NC; Virginia Moore of Cameron, NC; Ann Stanton and husband, Chris of Lillington, NC; Rachel Hickman and husband, Joe of Asheville, NC; Tina Breland and husband, David of Lillington, NC; brother, Larry Ray and wife, Jeanie of Moncure, NC; sister-in-law, Patricia Hattler and husband, Robert of Sanford, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Hickory, with the Rev Dr. Wallace Johnson and the Rev. Deborah McEachran officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. Memorials may be made to: Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658 or to First Presbyterian Church, 237 2nd St., NW, Hickory, NC 28601. Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Zollie Aubrey "Buddy" Ray.
Published in the Charlotte Observer on 2/6/2008.