Raymond "Ray" Smith Ferell

Asheville- Raymond “Ray” Smith Ferell, 90, of Asheville, passed away peacefully at Four Seasons Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, NC on Saturday, July 19th 2025.

Raymond Ferell was born on April 20th, 1935 in Pike County Missouri, at home, during holy week, two days after the full moon and one hour and 20 minutes before Easter Sunday to Clarence Raymond and Myrtle Oldean Smith Ferell. He started his schooling in a one-room school house, graduated from Ritenour Senior High School in Overland, MO in 1953, and went to the University of Missouri graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. He began working with the US Forest Service in Berea, KY in 1957. As a result of an ROTC commitment, Ray went to Ft. Sill, OK in 1958 and was assigned to the 2nd BG, 6th Infantry in Berlin Germany. After his tour, he returned to Kentucky to the US Forest Service. In 1964 he moved to Ames, IA and earned an MS and Ph.D. in Forest Economics. After several teaching positions he returned to the US Forest Service in 1981 and then to the National Forest in North Carolina, retiring in 2000.

In 1994 he married Doris Gidney and enjoyed 28 years of marriage traveling and seeing the world.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife Doris Gidney. He is survived by his brother Richard Ferell, his children, Nicole Ventura (Tony), Timothy Ferell, and Kai Ferell (Frances), and step-children Mark Gidney (Julia), Laura Jenkins (Bill), and Maggie Tilly (Harold).

A Celebration of Ray’s Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Givens Estates Norma F. Pullium Chapel. The Rev. Kelli Mullinix will officiate.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.