Jerry Ray

Funeral services for Jerry Ray, 64, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Lufkin with Dr. Mark Livingston and Senior Pastor D. Nick Scholars officiating. Private interment will follow in the Largent Cemetery.

Mr. Ray was born October 9, 1947 in Lufkin, Texas to J.C. and Opal Victoria (Stanbery) Ray, and died Wednesday, January 4, 2012 in a local hospital.

Mr. Ray was a lifetime resident of Angelina County and a 1966 graduate of Lufkin High School. He studied music at Angelina College under Eunice Vickery and Charles Hogan.

In November 1959 his parents, J.C. and Opal, opened Ray's Drive In Café. Mr. Ray grew up in the business and became a managing partner in 1968. He married Lawana Fenley in 1972, and in 1995 they became sole owners of Ray's Drive In, Inc. In 1996 they purchased a second location, Ray's West, on South John Redditt Drive.

Mr. Ray had resided in Clawson for 36 years. He was an avid hunter, and enjoyed boating and fishing with Lawana from their lake house on Sam Rayburn during the summer. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lufkin, and had served as song leader for many area churches.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Lawana (Fenley) Ray of Lufkin; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Kelly Ray of Tenaha; grandsons, Jordan and Josh; granddaughters, Ashlee and Sammy Jo; brother and sister-in-law, Billy W. and Freda Ray of Pollok; sisters and brother-in-law, Glenda Lambot of Sterling, Connecticut and Evelyn and Bob Castleberry of Lufkin; five nieces; five nephews; mother-in-law, Loyce Fenley of Pollok; a number of other relatives, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J.C. and Opal Ray; and father-in-law, Doyle Fenley.

Pallbearers will be Randy Baker, Randy George, Bill Harrison, Ricky Martinez, Keith Gilbert and Larry Bailey.

Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of Ray's Drive In Café and Ray's West.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.