Norman Lewis Ray

The youngest of 10 children, he was the last surviving member of the family preceded in death by six sisters and three brothers. Gwen Hamment (Lawrence), Roger Ray, Velma Rayburn (Earl), Walter Ray, Neta Howell (Jim), Willie Cushman (Frank), Richard Ray (Thelma), Jessie Gail Watson (Emory), Eunice Grimes (George) and his loving wife and son Etta Lou and Terry Lewis.

Survived by his loving daughter Pamela Kay Miles, daughter Cristi Jane Ray, and loving daughter in law Janette Ray, also seven nephews and five nieces. Four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

He spent most of his life in the shoe industry where he started at age 15 in the retail department store in his home town of Gridley, CA. He graduated from Gridley High School 1947 and joined the California National Guard in January 1948. When the Korean War started, he discharged from the National Guard and enlisted on active duty July 18, 1950 into v the U.S. Air Force. He attended basic training and technical training at Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming. He trained as a Teletype Operator and was so skilled in this field the Technical School made him an Instructor after his training course. In 1952 he was transferred to Air Force Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, where he served as the Staff Sergeant Supervisor for the Teletype Communications Center and was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force on June 24, 1954.

He returned to Gridley in December 1953 for Emergency leave and was meant to have a blind date with Etta Lou but they weren’t able to meet for the Date. At the insistence of Norman’s sister, he began a pen pal romance with Etta Lou while he was still stationed in Tokyo. The first letter was sent 29 December 1953 after returning from leave back to Japan. There were over 76 letters sent during his time in Tokyo where he began a 66 year long love affair. He returned back to Gridley on 15 June 1954 ready to begin a new life after the Korean War. Norman and Etta were married almost a year later on May 1, 1955. They were married 66 years until her passing in June 2021.

He was a Lifetime member of the VFW and Longtime Member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in Concord, California. He held of the offices of Junior Governor and then Governor of the Concord Lodge

A visitation for Norman will be held Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Palm South Jones Mortuary, 1600 South Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146. A funeral service will occur Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 1600 South Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146. A reception will occur Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 1600 South Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146. A committal service will occur Friday, December 16, 2022 from 10:40 AM to 11:10 AM at Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsouthjones.com for the Ray family.