Ray Moore

Ray was born on 27 August 1936 in Twiggs County, Georgia to the late Dudley Hilliard Moore and Rosa Bell Arnold. Ray grew up in a rural home with four older sisters and three older brothers all who have preceded him in death. When his mother passed, Ray moved to Savannah, Georgia to stay with his older brother Arthur until he finished high school. In 1955 Ray moved to Saginaw, Michigan, at the encouragement of his sister Rosa and her husband Lionel Brown.

After arriving in Saginaw, Ray lived with his sister Rosa's family and quickly obtained a position with Baker Perkins at Steering Gear (a division of General Motors). While there, he entered into an apprenticeship as a Tool & Die Maker, eventually becoming a journeyman in the trade.

In 1957, Ray married Marlene Stoddard from Kinde, Michigan and had three children. Ray was a long time member of the Michigan National Guard and in 1958 was chosen as the outstanding enlisted man of the 125th Infantry Regiment. Ray was also very active in the community as President of the local chapter of the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) and coached Little League baseball. For a time, he even raced stock cars at the Tri-City Dragway and flew self-constructed remote control planes with a local aviation club.

Ray enjoyed the Michigan outdoors. He spent many hours ice fishing for perch and hunting duck, pheasant, and deer with friends and relatives in the streams, lakes, and woods of Michigan but he never forgot his ties to Georgia. Each year Ray and his family would drive across country to visit his brothers and sisters there. Sometimes stopping to camp in the Smokey mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee or Cherokee, North Carolina to break up the trip.

In 1970, Ray took a position with Valenite Metals, selling carbide tools to the tool and die industry. He moved up through the company and in 1980 was promoted to a regional manager's position headquartered in Houston, Texas.

In the mid 80's, Lonna Pagel came dancing into his life. Ray married Lonna on 23 September 1995.

Ray was lovingly embraced by his new family: Lonna's three children, Richie (Gina) of Denver, Colorado and Pam and Diane of Houston, Texas. He enjoyed an active life golfing, hunting, and fishing with his new son-in-laws William (Billy) Chapline and Anthony (Tony) Levinson. Ray was there when all 7 grandchildren were born, Lindsay (Chad), Jason, Michelle (Collin), Amanda, Claire, Lorelei and Michael. He was their grandpa in every sense of the word. They shared 4 great grandchildren, Juniper, Cora, Braxon and Kaiden.

He also shared 3 grandchildren Daniel (Justine) of Haslet, Texas, Peyton, and Aengus of Tucson, Arizona. Ray just recently had a new great granddaughter Adeline of Haslet, Texas.

Ray is survived by his wife Lonna Moore, his son Aaron Moore and wife Michele Ritchie-Moore of Tucson, Arizona; his son Andrew Moore and wife Jerri of Haslet, Texas, He is predeceased by his son Adam Moore.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, 5 April 2025 at Bear Creek Methodist Church. A reception will follow the service in the Worship Center.