MERLE EDWIN RAY

Merle Ray

Merle Edwin Ray, 56, of Canton died at 2:08 a.m. Sept. 22, 2019, at OSF-St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

He was born Jan. 1, 1963, in Havana, a son of Arthur Eugene and Marilou Carolyn Ortman Ray. He married Theresye Raurun on April 2, 1995, in Canton. She survives.

Also surviving are his mother, Marilou Gaw of Havana; two brothers, Fred (and Christy) Ray and Kris (and Rebecca) Ray, both of Havana; one sister, Heather (and John) Spencer of Summum; two stepsons, Joshua Raurun of Canton and Kaleb Raurun of Kansas City, Mo.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and his father.

He served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years, as part of the Red Horse Division. He worked for both Intermet in Havana and Excel Corporation in Beardstown.

Cremation rites have been accorded and graveside services will be held at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Havana at a later date. VFW Post #6408 and American Legion Post #138 in Havana will provide a military detail. Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF-St. Francis in Peoria.

Condolences may be sent to hurleyfh.com.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 9/25/2019