Mr. William Douglas “Doug” Ray, age 88, of Vevay, Indiana, entered this life on May 13, 1936 in Gallatin County, Kentucky. He was the son of the late William Richard “Bill” and Dorothy E. (Craig) Ray. He was a 1954 graduate of the Patriot High School in Patriot, Indiana. Doug was inducted into the United States Army on May 3, 1956 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist Fourth Class on May 1, 1959 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Doug was united in marriage on February 11, 1961 to Barbara Mae Wiley at the Ruter Chapel United Methodist Church in Vevay, Indiana. This happy union of nearly 56 years was blessed with four children. Doug was formerly employed as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service,retiring in 1995, after 32 years of service. He enjoyed farming all of his life for over 50 years, as well as, gardening and pitching horse shoes. Doug was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185. Doug passed away at 5:09 p.m., Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana.
Doug is survived by his sons, Jerry Ray, Paul Ray and his wife, Lisa, and Eric Ray all of Vevay, IN; his daughter, Stacie (Ray) Helton and her husband, Steven of Vevay, IN; his grandchildren, Grant, Douglas, Cameron, Carter, Keegan, Kortni, Alexis and Connor; his great-grandchildren, Evelenia, Oliver, Ada Mae, Alexander, Klara and Leo; his sisters, Mary Jane Demaree and her husband, Tom of Vevay, IN, Phyllis Collier and her husband, Pat of Vevay, IN, Kay Roland and her husband, Rick of Jeffersonville, IN, Connie Spurlock and her husband, Ron of Allensville, IN and Rita Scudder and her husband, Randy of Rising Sun, IN; his brother, James “Jim” Ray and his wife, Sharon of Vevay, IN; his sisters-in-law, Robin Ray of Franklin, TN and Betty Ray of Cincinnati, OH and his numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Richard “Bill” Ray, died February 3, 1995; his mother, Dorothy E. (Craig) Ray, died March 11, 2011; his wife, Barbara Mae (Wiley) Ray, died March 16, 2017; his great-grandson, Holden Isaac Ray, died July 23, 2024 and his brothers, Danny Craig Ray, died October 9, 2001 and Larry Dale Ray, died July 22, 2023.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 17, 2025, by Rev. Mike Jones, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043. Full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vevay American Legion Post #185 Relief Fund. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com