Ralph Ray

Ralph Terry Ray ( T.R.), 77 of Seneca, (Bowman) SC entered into his heavenly reward on April 29th, 2014 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. Terry was born on June 15th, 1936 to Ralph Raymond Ray and Leora Lucille Ray of Moundsville, WV. Terry grew up in Randolph, OH as an only child amid the fields and streams of southwest Portage county Ohio. Terry attended the Randolph High School through his junior year and graduated from Kent State High School in 1954. Terry attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa and finished his Bachelor of Science at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio in 1958. Terry went on to Ohio State University pursuing a Masters in Chemistry. He was employed by Chemical Abstracts in Columbus, Ohio where he contributed to the field of Chemistry through research, development, and published works. In 1968, Terry answered a call to ministry and entered Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. While in seminary, Terry met the love of his life, Marie Elizabeth Keppel also attending seminary. Terry graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1971 and married Marie Elizabeth on June 26, 1971. Upon graduation, Terry was ordained and appointed by the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Terry served as an associate pastor at Central UMC in Mansfield, Ohio from 1968-1971, Peace United Methodist Church from 1971-1979, Calvary United Methodist Church from 1979-1983 and Boyce United Methodist Church from 1983-1985. Terry and Marie were included in the formation of the Key 73 Youth Witness Tour/Youth Musicale, of the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church. These were touring choirs of young Christian voices born out of Peace UMC and others singing and presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the churches of East Ohio and beyond. Terrys ministry has reached hundreds and hundreds of people and influenced countless numbers with the Gospel. Youth Musicale has led to numerous pastoral calls to ministry, missionaries, evangelists, sister ministries and testimonies of the hand of God working in our time. Youth Musicale continues to this day in East Ohio Conference and has now celebrated its 40th year in ministry. Terrys ministry at Peace UMC in Louisville, OH experienced growth, several revivals and sponsored the building of a sister church in Malasary, Kerala India. Terry made several trips to India to present the Gospel in the 1970s and one in the 1990s with his son Jeremy. In 1985, Terry, Marie and their children Jeremy and Heidi moved to Seneca, SC. Terry continued in an advisory role within the local church and found a role as a professor of Chemistry and Physics at Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, SC. Terry was an excellent teacher and the one man that anyone would want and need in a Chemistry class. In his retirement years, Terry and his family loved to travel and simply be a ministry to his family. Terry loved going to and watching baseball games. A life-long Cleveland Indians and Ohio State Buckeyes fan, Terry could often be heard singing his alma mater Carmen Ohio with a slight tear in his eye. One of Terrys favorite things was to attend his daughter, Heidis, horseback riding competitions. Terry loved horses, fishing, sailing, teaching, preaching, writing, painting, and playing the piano. He loved the bass in any orchestra and cherished the music of Rachmaninoff. He loved to quote Scripture and many of the famous quotes in history. He loved astronomy, star gazing and deep theological conversations. Terry led mission trips, climbed the Half Dome and traveled around the world. His role in ministry never ended as he was continually involved in his childrens lives, as a dad, a teacher, a role model and an unconditionally loving model of Jesus Christ in every way. As a husband to his wife Marie, he supported her own call to ordained ministry in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, her hard work in recent years as a seminary student and her continued ministry as an ordained clergyperson to this day. His love for the Lord, his intoxicating sense of humor, his grand voice and his wisdom will forever be remembered by those who knew and cherished him. A true man of God and a faithful loving witness have made his life a victory for the Lord Jesus Christ. Terry is survived by his wife Rev. Marie Elizabeth Ray of (Seneca) Bowman, SC, his Son Rev. Jeremy J Ray of Massillon, OH (Angela), two grandsons Ryan Christopher Ray and Robert Terry Ray of Massillon, OH and his daughter Heidi Marie Rogers of Warner Robins, GA (Timothy). Terry was preceded in death by his father Ralph R. Ray (1979) and his mother Leora L. Ray (1991) of Kent, OH. The Funeral Service and internment will be held at the Concord United Methodist Church in Bishopville, SC on May 3rd, 2014 at 2 oclock pm followed by a congregational dinner. Visitation will be held Friday 6-8 pm at Norton Funeral Home, Bishopville, S.C. A Memorial Service will be held at the Wightman United Methodist Church in Bowman, SC on May 4th also at 2 oclock. A final memorial service will be held at the Dueber United Methodist Church in Canton, Ohio in the coming weeks. Services will be officiated by Terrys son, Rev. Jeremy J. Ray. Memorials may be made to the Concord United Methodist Church at PO Box 241 Bishopville, SC 29010, Peace United Methodist Church at 5520 Ravenna Ave NE, Louisville, OH 44641 and to the American Cancer Society research for a cure for Pancreatic Cancer at PO Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. www.nortonfh.net