Raymond Pearson Ray

Raymond Pearson “Goob” Ray, 83, of 108 N. Blue Ridge Road, Black Mountain, died Monday, June 26, 2006, at the VA Medical Center. Mr. Ray was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late Elihu J. and Pearl Case Ray. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Geneva Sparks Ray, who died in 1994. Mr. Ray was an Army veteran of WW II and he retired in 1986 from Sayles Biltmore Bleacheries. He is survived by two daughters, Barbara Sellers and her husband, John, of Asheville and Brenda Padgett and her husband, Charles, of Black Mountain; four grandchildren, John Sellers, Jr., Terri Padgett, Tracy Sellers, and Brian Padgett; ten great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Alene Jarrett of Leicester, and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Ball officiating. Burial will be at Ashelawn Gardens. His family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.