Rev. Donald Lee Ray (1926-2018)

Rev. Donald Lee Ray, 92, passed away Feb. 15, 2018 at his home in Ellsworth. He was born Jan. 21, 1926 in Wichita to Howard Lee and Lena (Marino) Ray.

Donald served his country in the U.S. Army Air Force. He married Beverly Dean Sawhill in Wichita on March 24, 1946. He owned a grocery store in Wichita until 1958 when he felt called to the ministry. He served Arlington and Pretty Prairie churches while attending Sterling College. After graduation, he attended the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. After finishing seminary in 1965, he took his first and only pastoral calling at First Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. He served there for 26 years before retiring in 1991.

Donald is survived by his daughter, Kathy Curts of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter, Niki Svaty (Don) of Ellsworth; daughter, Diana Liskey (Bill) of Ft. Collins, Colo.; daughter, Carol Cheyney (Ron) of Newton; son, Dan Ray (Bonnie) of Ellsworth; son, Ben Ray (Tiffany) of Derby; 34 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; sister, Carolyn Ledford of Nocona, Texas; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Ray of Wichita. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son-in-law, David; two brothers, and one sister.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ellsworth County Food Bank in care of Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.

Condolences may be left at parsonsfh.com