Ray was born on November 17, 1932 in Clio, Alabama, the fourth of seven children, to Howard and Thelma (Carter) Spears. His family moved to Winter Garden when Ray was 5 and Ray attended Winter Garden public schools through his graduation from Lakeview High School in 1951. At Lakeview he played football, baseball and basketball. Ray attended Florida State University where he met his wife Betty and was involved in the Baptist Student Union. He graduated with a BA in Social Work from Florida State University in 1955 and with a Masters Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1958.
Ray lived most of his life in Winter Garden. He served as mayor of Winter Garden for three terms and was a member and past president of Winter Garden Rotary. He was a licensed real estate broker and general building contractor and a charter member of the committee that planned the Orange County Convention Center. In 1976, he was chair of the Winter Garden bicentennial committee. He retired from full time work in 2004 but continued to work part-time the rest of his life. He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, Winter Garden, the chair of the church centennial celebration committee in 1989 and a teacher of his Sunday school class for many years.
In his retirement, Ray enjoyed traveling with his wife on river boat cruises. Ray loved his family and enjoyed visiting his children and grandchildren as well as his large extended family. He loved FSU and had season football tickets for many years.
Ray is survived by his wife, Betty; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Gayle (Reid) Spears of Green Bay, WI and son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Joni (Hardy) Spears of Grayslake, IL; his brother Gene and his sister Glynda; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his brothers Bob, Jack, Billy and Michael.
A public funeral will be held at First Baptist Church, Winter Garden on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. preceded by a visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow. All are welcome to attend.
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