Ray was a native of Westlake, Louisiana. He was an avid sports fan. In 1953, Ray helped lead the Westlake Rams football team to their only state championship. In 1954, he was named all-state quarterback. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from McNeese State University and his master’s degree from Louisiana State University. After having taught mathematics for 31 years, Ray retired from McNeese in 1992. He was also a well-known cabinet maker in the lake area.
Ray was an inspiration to all who knew him. If you were a stranger when you met him, you weren’t when you left. He was a member of Westlake Church of God and loved his church family like it was his own. Ray was an unselfish man that did for others and was loved beyond measure.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Ann Barrow Friesner, his high school sweetheart, who he married in 1957. He had four daughters: Alyson Chance of Westlake; Julie Turnage and husband Bruce of Westlake; Maggie White and husband Kevin of DeQuincy; and Liz Glass and husband Jason of Moss Bluff. Ray was very proud of the fact that all four of his daughters followed in his footsteps and became teachers. He is also survived by his nine precious grandchildren: Chadd (Chuck) Turnage and wife Emily, Jeremy (Merimiah) Ortego and wife Tiffany, Josh (Ralph) Turnage and fiancé Pennie Dupree, Kayla (Kate) Gray and husband Brian, Garrett (Grubby) White, Claire (Clarabelle) White, Mary Beth (Beff) Glass, Megan (Sunshine) Ortego and boyfriend Zach Vincent, and Haley (Pickett) Glass; his step-grand-daughters: Kara Benoit and husband Chris, Ashley Mesa and husband Josh, and Amanda Rebert and husband Chad; 21 great-grandchildren; sister Mildred Rose Mere; many nieces and nephews who were very special to him; sister-in-law Mary Hereford and her husband and longtime friend J.D. Hereford; brother-in-law Chester Barrow and wife Justine; and childhood and lifelong friends Wayne Fleming and wife Sandra.
He was preceded in death by his parents Oland and Georgia (Schwarzer) Friesner; sisters Dorothy Conrad, Ola Mae Hicks, and Evelyn Milburn; brothers Bud Friesner and Dan Friesner.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 9, at Westlake Church of God on Maddox Street. Visitation will be at the church from 2:00-9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, and from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Monday. Burial will be in Westlake Memorial Gardens. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
The family would like to thank Dr. Frederick Hagermeister and his nurse Valerie at M. D. Anderson for these last 16 months. Also, the family would like to especially thank Dr. Michael Broussard and his nurse Melissa at Memorial Hospital for their care and compassion, as well as the ICU staff at Memorial for their excellent care. Lastly, they would like to thank Brother Rocky East and Brother Ken Sifford and the many churches, family, and friends for their endless prayers, love, and support.
Donations in Ray’s honor may be made to Westlake Church of God for Operation Christmas Child. (140 Maddox Road Westlake, LA 70669)
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