Willie Ray Obituary

Willie Amelia "Bill" Ray

March 30, 1926 -

November 21, 2024

ERWIN - Willie Amelia "Bill" Ray, age 98, of Erwin, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at her residence – Governor's Bend Assisted Living Facility, in Erwin, TN.

Born March 30, 2024, in Bakersville, NC, to Will and Bessie Byrd McKinney, Willie graduated from Bowman High School in 1944. During WWII, she worked in a factory supporting war efforts in Hanover, PA. After the war, she married her sweetheart, Frank C. Ray on her 20th birthday, and they settled in Erwin, TN.

Willie was a painter at Southern Potteries before becoming a stay-at-home mom to their sons, Scott and Charles. During their school years, she worked as a cafeteria cook for Unicoi County Schools. Other employments were at Levi Strauss and Meason, Inc. Willie returned to the cafeteria at Evans Elementary when her grandchildren were in school, and she was lovingly known as a "lunch lady" again.

Willie was known for her love for her family and friends, and her good home cooking. "Mamaw Ray" as her family called her, loved to read, sew, cook, and spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whenever they were in tow.

As a faithful Christian, Willie attended First Baptist Church, Ninth Street Baptist, and Calvary Baptist Church in Erwin. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, three sisters, one brother, and her daughter-in-law, Marie Lyons Ray. She is survived by her sons, Scott and Charles (Lynne), grandchildren, Tommy (Alli), Evan (Jen), and Jenny Carvalho (Holland); and four great-grandchildren, Bergen, Amelia, Everett, and Emarie.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, on Monday, November 25, 2024, in the chapel at Valley Funeral Home. Reverend John Kuhne will officiate. Musical selections will be provided by Damaris Higgins. A visitation period to share memories and offer support to the family will begin at 1:00 pm on Monday and will continue until service time. Bill will be buried at a later date in Roselawn Memory Gardens.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents at Governor's Bend for providing a warm home and friendships over the last six years, and Amedisys Hospice for the loving care they provided for Bill in her final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor her memory by serving a neighbor in need.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family through our website at www.valleyfuneralhome.net or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ValleyFuneralHomeErwin. These arrangements are made especially for the family and friends of Willie Amelia "Bill" Ray through Valley

Funeral Home, 1085 N. Main Ave., Erwin, TN, 423-743-9187.