David M. Ray was born on Aug. 1, 1941 in Jal, N.M. On Thursday, May 11, 2017 the Lord assisted him into the gates of Heaven.
He is survived by: his wife, Dorothy Ray; stepsons, Tom Strickland (Kris) and Don Strickland; four grandchildren, Brent Strickland, Aaron Strickland, Jodee Jones, and Tammy Hibbitt; 12 great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Dave and Jackie Faulkner; nephews, Bob, George and Steve Wolf and close family friend, Sharon Winters.
Dave was raised in Wink, Texas and graduated the top of his class from Wink High School on May 22, 1959. Next to his class picture in the yearbook was the saying “David Ray known to all as the studious kind and a nicer fellow you’ll ever find.”
After high school graduation he attended Texas-Western College in El Paso and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree on May 23, 1964. He took one year off from college to work in the oil fields and raise a little money to help pay his college expenses. He always said “Working in the oil wells was one of the hardest jobs he ever had.”
After graduation he went to work in the Montana Mines as a metallurgist. After a few years there, he was hired by Inspiration Copper Company and that’s when Dorothy came into his life. “He was her Boss.” Dave and Dorothy were married on Jan. 27, 1979 and have enjoyed 38 years together.
He was a member of the Church of Christ in Miami, Life Member of the Pinal Mountain Elks Lodge #2809 and a lifelong avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Assisting the family; Lamont Mortuary of Globe.
