Ray McDonald Bishop

Ray McDonald Bishop, 85, also known as Ray Mac, Dad, Grandpa Ray and Paw Paw, passed away Friday, January 16, 2015. Ray was a lover of good science fiction and thrillers, loyal dogs, somewhat loyal cats, his wife's Gator, cars, carrot cake and Pecan Sandies. He was born on May 29, 1929, in Columbia, Missouri, where his father, Lloyd Bishop, worked as an auto mechanic and where his mother, Mary Berry Bishop, worked as a nurse and later became a home-based telephone operator after the family lost Lloyd to leukemia when Ray was a little boy. Ray was the third of four kids. His eldest sister, Geneva Shock, lives in Centertown. His sister, Mary Virginia Williamson of Jefferson City, and brother, Eddie Bishop of Columbia, preceded him in death. He graduated from Hickman High School. Ray often said he was a man blessed to be surrounded by beautiful women. He met Marjorie Gibson at Blue Skies Roller Rink in Holts Summit after first spying her on the street while visiting Jefferson City with friends. They eloped on April 30, 1950, and settled in Jefferson City and later Holts Summit. Five daughters followed: Cindi Johnson (husband Mark) of Holts Summit, Kelli Ann Bishop - who preceded him in death, Tracy Glidewell (husband Rod) of Columbia, Kristy McGonigal (husband Donnie) of Holts Summit, and Julie Bishop-Cross (husband Chris) of St. Louis. These ladies gave him a slew of grandchildren starting with the granddaughter who was like a daughter, Michele Thorpe (husband Tony) of Columbia, then Jessica Parker of Highland, Michigan, Dustin Parker of Holts Summit, Danielle McGonigal of Versailles, Sean McGonigal of Holts Summit, Christopher McGonigal of Sedalia, Corey Glidewell - who preceded him in death, Isabel Cross of St. Louis, Sophia Cross of St. Louis, and Max Cross, also of St. Louis. And don't even get me started on the GREAT-grandchildren: Owen Thorpe of Columbia, Madison Turpin of Versailles, Trenton McGonigal of Versailles, Kapri McGonigal of Versailles, and Jordynn McGonigal of Holts Summit. During his misspent youth, Ray picked up a love of shooting pool, playing poker, andÖ chess (he'd whip you every time). As a young man he wanted to become a pilot and since there was a war on, he ran away to Texas to join the Air Force at the tender age of 16. His mother Mary, later known in the family as Baboo, wouldn't hear of it and had his uncles haul him home. He then decided to follow in his father's footsteps and became an auto mechanic. In the mid-1960s he opened Mel-Ray Motors in Jefferson City with his brother-in-law, Melvin Williamson. Ray soon bought out Melvin and moved the business to Holts Summit, where he worked until the age of 75. Ray loved to tinker with cars and build things, he built a dune buggy which drove his wife nuts, and once built a "UFO" to entertain his kids, causing the neighbors to panic and call the police. Just shy of their 50th anniversary, Ray's wife Margie lost a long battle with cancer. Ray found love again at the age of 75 (no kidding!) with Rosemary Boeckmann Wolken of Centertown, marrying on Oct. 9, 2004. The couple wiled away their golden years by playing cards, dancing every Saturday night at the VFW Hall in Columbia, gardening and traveling every summer. Ray gained step-kids: Chuck Wolken (wife Karen) of Leavenworth, Kansas, Diane Helton of St. Louis, and Eugene Wolken (wife Maria) of Kansas City. He greatly enjoyed his new step-grandkids, Mary Kate Wolken and John Wolken of Leavenworth, Kansas, Elizabeth Helton of Sarasota, Florida, Alex Helton of St. Louis, and Paul Wolken of Kansas City. Family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at Houser-Millard Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 1:30 p.m. An additional visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Monday at St. Martins Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 19, 2014 at St. Martins Catholic Church with Fr. Ed Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the: Humane Society or Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109; (573) 636-3838. Condolences maybe left online for the family at www.millardfamilychapels.com