Howard E. Ray
Howard Ray Obituary
HARRISVILLE, NY ~ Howard E. Ray, 88, former Town of Pitcairn Highway Superintendent, of State Rt. 812, Harrisville, died Sunday, October 7, 2018 in Colonial Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Rome, NY, where he had been a patient since September 7th.
Born April 7, 1930 in Ogdensburg, NY, a son of Edward and Luella Holmes Ray, he was educated at schools in Edwards, NY.
A veteran, he enlisted in the US Army on October 7, 1948, and served with the HQ Co 9th Div of the Regular Army until transferring to the US Army Reserves on Oct. 4, 1949. He served with the 314th Military Police Battalion while in the Reserves until he was honorably discharged as a PFC on September 15, 1954.
He had marriages to Martha Graham, Vera Parow, who are both deceased, and to Kay E. Miller, who he is survived by.
A tractor trailer driver for much of his life, he drove the big rigs for over 23 years for the Newton Falls Paper Company, during which he was recognized with the One Million Mile Certificate for driving over a million miles with never an accident. Throughout much of his career as a tractor trailer driver, he also owned and operated the Village Inn in Harrisville during the early 1970’s, drove tour buses for the Flack Company in Ogdensburg, and for Leon Laforty out of Oxbow in the mid 1970’s, and served a short stint as a St. Lawrence County Deputy Sheriff. From the late 1970’s until the mid 1980’s, he also owned and operated the Texaco Gas Station in Harrisville, and delivered snowplows for Viking Snow Plow in Harrisville for many years. He eventually became the Pitcairn Highway Superintendent where he served for 3 terms before retiring in December, 2017.
He was a member of Gouverneur Elks and Beaver River Memorial Post 1663 American Legion in Croghan.
Throughout his life, he was well known for being able to drive anything on four wheels including heavy equipment. As a people-person, he always enjoyed interacting with people, loved his German Shepard dogs, and especially loved his wife, Kay, and anytime spent with her.
In addition to his wife, Kay, he is survived by nine children, Rhonda J. (Donald) King, of Largo, FL, Vicki R. Kuan, of Watertown, NY, Randall H. Ray, David E. (Uta) Parow, all of Harrisville, Donna M. (Robert) Stone, of Carthage, Julie A. (Richard) Malbeuf, of Harrisville, Carol L. (Michael) Urbaniweiz, of Adams Ctr., Barbara C. (Brian) Bassette, of Canton, and Jeffrey W. (Kerri) Miller, of New Bremen; 18 grandchildren and 13 great, great grandchildren; a brother, James Ray, of Buffalo, NY, and two sisters, Patricia Felt, of Buffalo, and Virginia Miller, of Ogdensburg.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Ruth Wright, and Sharon Meldrum.
A Memorial Service for Howard will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Harrisville Fire Hall with Rev. Canon Samuel P. Lundy, Fire Chaplin, officiating. A graveside committal with military honors will follow in the Harrisville Community Cemetery, Harrisville. A funeral luncheon will follow the committal service at the Harrisville Fire Hall.
Calling hours where family and friends will be received at the Fire Hall will also be on Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. until the commencement of the funeral service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Harrisville VFD Rescue Squad.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Scanlon Funeral Home, Harrisville.
Online obituary and messages of condolence at www.scanlonfuneral.com.
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