Joseph "Ray" Leray McNamara

Joseph Leray McNamara, Ray, was born on January 14, 1947, in Greenville, MS to Augusta Wilson and Joseph Pearse McNamara of Vicksburg, MS and passed peacefully on March 23, 2024. Between those two dates an immeasurable amount of living took place. It’s difficult to incapsulate a person who was so noted for being constantly on the move and the faster the better. He was wickedly funny; and finding his jokes so remarkable, he shared them over and over again to his captive audience. He was a voracious reader, intelligent, music lover, a snappy dresser, a trusted confidant, wise, and an honorable opponent who played fair. He had “that” smile with gorgeous blue eyes, gracious manners, added to his incredible dancing skills, making him perhaps not perfect for everyone, but certainly perfect for the two wives who adored him.

Ray was the essence of a true southern gentleman, excepting that he did not hunt, play golf, play poker, gamble or anything that required him to sit still, but put him on a mountain bike or in a kayak and he was your man…; oh, and, as a good Irishman, he did love a good bourbon on the rocks. His life was an adventure from the beginning. As a youth, his family moved from Vicksburg to Seoul, Korea. While there, he traveled to Japan and climbed Mt. Fuji for one of his Eagle Scout badges; next it was a move to the beautiful British island of Trinidad, with Ray only leaving his family to return to Vicksburg to finish high school in the states.

After graduating from Cooper High School in 1965, he headed to Ole Miss on a ROTC scholarship. Ray loved learning and people and so once again he was in his absolute element! He pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity, later becoming its two-time Rush Chair, as well as President. He was also extremely honored to have been recognized for his leadership skills and grades when selected for ODK. He often remarked how both humbled and honored he was to have been part of these groups and truly treasured the lifelong friendships of his Phi Delt brothers.

While at Ole Miss, he began dating Vicksburg native, Elizabeth (Betty) Reeve Swan, his first love. They married during Christmas of 1969, just after he graduated and before heading off to OTS to fulfill his commitment to the Navy during the Vietnam War. Training in Pensacola was the first time that Ray was ever really challenged, both physically and mentally, as he met up with the naval graduates from Annapolis. It was shock! Between Calculus and the swimming (or drowning) pool, he wondered if he’d be able to finish Officer Training School.

Fortunately, for Ray, his competitive spirit got him through OTS and his nearsightedness landed him in the “right seat” of many future cockpits as a naval navigator flight officer. Once again, Ray was on an adventure and felt blessed to be joined by his new bride at the naval air station on Guam. Those were remarkable days for them both- think “Top Gun” friendships and excitement for both the men and their wives on a Pacific island. Their first child, Mark, was one of many babies born during that tour of duty. Ray went on to serve more than four years in the Navy at several postings, and as his commanding officer remarked in his final report, he was “honoring Ray’s request to be released so that he could attend law school, but was deeply disappointed for the navy to lose someone of Ray’s caliber of leadership and dedication.”

From there, Ray and family headed to Oxford, MS, so that he could attend UM Law School. Again, he was thrilled at the opportunity to finally be home with family and friends, heading to school on his bike (in 1975, that was so strange…) and then spending nights studying hard so that he could graduate in two years. He was selected for the Law Review, graduated 4th in his class and he and Betty were thrilled to be joined by another son, Daniel Reeve McNamara. The family loved their time in Oxford, and he maintained those close law school friendships to his very last days.

Though he was recruited by several law firms, it was the offer from Wise, Carter, Child and Caraway, he accepted. Ray appreciated that they were gentlemen, being sportsmen, erudite, and, perhaps, most of all, utterly entertaining, all things he aspired to be and so he felt honored to join the firm. His years there were a great learning curve, but eventually he decided that he would like to form his own firm. Ray was fortunate to have nurtured wonderful relationships with members from both sides of the bar who trusted Ray’s integrity and honesty. He credited their generosity in sharing their conflict cases with him in giving his small firm a head start.

His practice grew, ultimately focusing on medical malpractice defense and insurance plaintiff and defense work. When asked by one of his former associates to assist in filing a Writ of Certiorari before the United States Supreme Court, for her terminally ill employer, Ray did so. Surprised and thrilled, it was accepted and set for oral argument on his upcoming birthday! During oral arguments, he even drew laughter from Chief Justice, William Rehnquist… he loved telling that story over and over.

Their family had been made complete with the birth of his baby girl, Elizabeth Swan McNamara; and he began to feel the need to slow down a bit at work to enjoy the remaining years while his older children were still at home. As all three of his children are exact replicas of Ray, it was game on for all the family and their friends. Days were spent biking, hiking, and kayaking when traveling to his much loved cabin in North Carolina. Surely it was difficult at times to discern the parent from the child.

As much as he loved the law, he never regretted any of those days missed at work, except occasionally when he would enter the fabulous home of a friend or partner and would look over and say “was it worth it”, and then nod, truly knowing that time spent with those he loved had been worth every dollar not made. He certainly knew that to be most true after Betty’s death while traveling in England in the spring of 2005. It was an incredibly difficult time for the family, as many didn’t think that Ray would even survive, but he was determined to return home to his adored children.

Ray worked hard to get back to work and made a near miraculous recovery. He was slated to become the new managing partner at the law firm of Copeland, Cook, Taylor and Bush; and by the end of the summer, he took over the job and made his move to rejoin the living. Ray flourished at CCTB, with the staff and lawyers each feeling they had a friend and advocate. It was here that he met his second love, Cynthia (Cindy) Cleveland McNamara.

Ray and Cindy had been good friends for over four years at the law firm. Eventually, they began seeing each other and, ultimately, realized they had fallen in love. Then came the decision to gamble on true love, not for anyone else, but just for themselves. Marrying in 2009, it was a gamble that paid off in spades for both of them and their blended family was the bonus. Cindy’s children, Kyle Cleveland Clayton and Andrew Cooper Clayton, adored Ray as did all of their McNamara and Clayton grandchildren.

When in 2014, Ray was diagnosed with possible Dementia with Lewy Body, the doctor told them to go travel the world and in time, what would be, would be, and that is exactly what they’d been doing until this past year. They’ve danced, laughed, traveled across the globe, enjoyed their many friends, adored their family and loved each other dearly. Their time together has been such a blessing, which each was unsure they deserved, but for which they were extremely grateful.

Ray was predeceased by his first wife, Betty McNamara, his mother and father, Gussie and Joe McNamara, and his step-son, Andrew Clayton. He is survived by his children Mark McNamara (Jennifer), Reeve McNamara (Corinne), Elizabeth Nachman (Brandon) and step-son Kyle Clayton (Paige), Andrew’s wife, Taylor Clayton and their eleven grandchildren: Aidan, Reeve, Pearse, Xavier McNamara, and Leray and Benjamin Nachman, as well as Haze, Grayson, Caroline, Cooper, and Vivi Clayton.

Our family wishes to thank the staff of The Blake at the Township, St. Catherine’s Village and our devoted sitters Eloise, Alisha, Rudie and Patty for their great care of him throughout his last year. Visitation will begin at noon on April 5th at St. Richard Catholic Church; a Time of Reflection by family and friends will begin at 2:30 p.m; with the Celebration of Life mass to follow at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Richard Catholic Church, P.O. Box 16547, Jackson, MS 39236-6547 or to the charity of your choice.