Betty Jeanne (Schertz) Ray, age 98 of Ames, died peacefully at Accura Healthcare of Ames, Saturday, December 7th, 2024. She was born January 17th, 1926 in Metamora, IL to Edna Elizabeth (Evey) and Lester Lee Schertz.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at Stevens Memorial Chapel, 607 28th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010 at 2:00 p.m. There will be a visitation at the funeral home one hour before the service. Burial will be held at Ames Municipal Cemetery in Ames, Iowa immediately following the service.
Betty graduated from Metamora High School. She then graduated from Bradley College in Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Business. While at Bradley she meet the love of her life Maynard Mansfield Ray. Betty and Maynard were married on May 1, 1948 in Illinois. There were two children to this union, Bryan Maynard Ray and Lyndon Sherman Ray.
After their marriage, Betty and Maynard moved to Ames where Maynard joined the family business at Ray Jewelers. Betty worked for Iowa State University as a bookkeeper in the Treasures Office and then the Housing Department retiring in 1965. She was a homemaker for her family while the boys were growing up. Then later in life she began working for Homeward at Mary Greeley Hospital until 1992.
She is survived by her two sons, Bryan (Pamela) Ray and Lyndon (Cathi Pelelo) Ray; seven grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard Ray; Her parents, Lester and Edna Schertz; Her sister, Grace Schertz, and brother, Lyle Schertz.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be direct to the Animal Rescue League, 5452 NE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA 50313, or the Butterfly Garden at Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at www.stevensmemorialchapel.com for the Ray family.
