Gene L. Ray
January 24, 1935 ~ October 29, 2024
Born in:
Madison County, North Carolina
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Gene L. Ray, 89, of Asheville, passed away October 29, 2024 at the Charles George V.A. Hospital in Asheville.
Gene will be interred at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain. Due to damage from Hurricane Helene, the Cemetery Chapel is currently closed. An interment service with military honors will be scheduled once the facility re-opens.
A memorial service to celebrate Gene’s life will also be scheduled at a later date.
Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family and will announce the service arrangements once they are made.
Services
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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Sylvia and I love and admire you both.
Praying for your comfort but we know that Gene is at rest.
Good man!
Matthew, Michelle, and family. We love you and grieve you loss with you. Your loss is tremendous and will be felt for a long time. Please know we are praying for you.
Love Brian and Patty
It was with great sadness that I heard the news of Gene’s passing. However, our loss is Heaven’s gain. Sending prayers for all the family. Please remember, Gene touched the lives of many people – setting an example for all with a life well lived in Christian service. I admired him very much. ——– Don A.
Cynthia, I am so sorry to read of Gene ‘s passing! May God grant you and your family comfort during this time.
Judy Ward
Gene was a huge inspiration to anyone who knew him and we feel so blessed to have him as our neighbor and friend for the last two years. Park Avenue will not be the same without Gene watching guard from his garage and always having a friendly wave for everyone. Cynthia- we love you and are here for you every minute!
I love Chief Ray
He gave me my one and only police job. He was kind and could be so funny Gene i will miss you.
Cynthia,
My deepest sympathy on the passing of Gene. I never had the honor of meeting him, but I read his messages on Facebook. One thing for sure, he is with Jesus now!! I wish you and Michele and her husband peace.
RIP Gene
Sorry to hear of Gene’s passing he was a good friend to me and a great person to be around.My prayers and condolences to his family
Gene was a shining light in my life, always Thy best prayer warrior you could ever have I loved him so much,he will be so missed
Cynthia, Michelle & Family,
Our sincere sympathy. Gene was a friend a special neighbor and I also had the privilege of working for him at
The Biltmore Forest P.D.
I am sure he is resting now in heaven with our Lord and Savior.
Joe & Mary Ann Culotta
I pray that God’s grace, peace, and comfort be with you.
So sorry to learn of Gene’s passing. He was a great friend to our family, especially my mom. Such a kind man who made a difference in many lives. He will be missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with ya’ll during the loss of your loved one Gene was a true warrior and friends to a lot of people and will be greatly missed by family members and friends, Gene is in a better place God has gotten another warrior, With love, From the Butler family, Doc (Jack) ,Linda, Tony butler
I suppose I first met Gene Ray fifty years or so ago, when I was a little kid and my parents moved to Biltmore Forest. I have known him as a police officer who inspired confidence and trust, a chief of police who inspired admiration, but more than that, as a friend and a good Christian Chaplain whose message he inspired so many people. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps, an honorable law enforcement officer, a leader…. and again, I say, he was a friend….a good friend to my parents and to me. I cant count the number of times when something….anything…. went wrong and my mother would call on him….and he was always there. In these past few years, I discovered his daily inspirational commentaries here on the computer…. and I have loved reading them so much…and been profoundly inspired by them. I hadn’t seen him in a long time….but he was still being here for folks who needed him. He will be so greatly missed. My most heartfelt prayers and condolences for his family. Fair winds and following seas, my friend. And what a rejoicing there must have been to welcome you Home.
My heartfelt love, prayers and condolences to you and your family on the loss of your beloved husand Gene.What a rejoicing there must be in heaven at his arrival !!!
Cynthia, so very sorry of Gene’s passing. My condolences to you and Michelle.
Chief Gene Ray you will be missed. The memories of you will be ever lasting. Chief Ray gave me a job when I was in need and trusted me to do that job.
Cynthia and Michelle, so sorry for your loss. Praying that that your memories and God’s love will sustain you. I know he will be greatly missed.
I worked with “Bookie” at Biltmore Forest back in the day as a fireman. I spent most of the shift riding with the PD officers and always enjoyed spending time with Gene. Good memories! Thanks Gene for being a great guy and teaching me so much when I was just getting started. I look forward to seeing you at headquarters triumphant!