William J. Ray

William “Bill” Jefferson Ray, 80, loving brother, father and grandfather passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2020. He was born June 9, 1940 in Oklahoma City, OK to John Harold Sr. and Alpha Ann (Taylor) Ray. Bill had an ornery streak a mile long and loved to joke and give everyone a hard time. He had goofy little phrases that would always earn a smile or a laugh. He was also a fierce protector of his family and did everything he could to help and provide for them. He was a strong military man and served two enlistments with the U.S. Army. For his first deployment he was stationed in Italy and for his second he deployed to Vietnam at the start of the Vietnam War. When he came home, he went back to work for the Daily Oklahoman working his way up to Night Mailroom Supervisor until his retirement, afterwords he went to work for Top Golf until they closed in 2005. He loved playing golf and played almost every day until 2010, he also really enjoyed watching sports including OU football, basketball, and golf, as well as the OKC Thunder and PGA Golf. He was fond of Perry’s Restaurant and the staff, and went almost every day, most days twice a day for close to 20 years. His survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, John Jr. and Dorothy Ray of Houston, TX, son Randy Ray of San Jose, CA, and granddaughter Megan Ray of Oklahoma City, OK, as well as two nephews and one niece and his closest friend of 40+ years Ginger Flanagan of Oklahoma City, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents John Sr. and Alpha Ray and his youngest son William “Danny” Ray. His funeral service will be held at Sunny Lane funeral home on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 2 p.m. with interment following at Sunny Lane Cemetery.