Roma Lea Ray

Roma Lea Ray, of Dixon, age 87, passed away in the late afternoon on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital, Jefferson City. The cause of death was COVID-19. She was born on October 23, 1932, near Dixon, in Pulaski County, a daughter of Bennett Garrett and Ethel Ira (Crismon) Jones. Mrs. Ray was united in marriage on November 11, 1951, at Topeka, Kansas, to Paul Lionel Ray, and to this union, three children were born. During Roma's school years, she worked part time at her parents' dime store business. She worked very hard at her school work and did very well in her grades. She was in choir and FHA. Roma was valedictorian of her Dixon High School Class of 1950. She then attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana. Roma accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized early in life. She was a faithful and dedicated member of the First Church of God of Dixon. She served the church in various capacities over the years. She was on the church board, was a Sunday School teacher for many years, and was the song leader, and she directed the Sunday morning church activities until the minister stepped forward to deliver the sermon. Roma also sang specials, songs sung by a few people at the front of the church. One of the people she sang specials with was her father. When her oldest grandson was old enough to sing, she and he sang specials together as he also went to church there. During her working life, Roma worked in a restaurant for a while and then was employed by Gascosage Electric Co-operative in Dixon from 1952 to 1972, with the exception of not working at Gascosage for almost two years after her twins were born. She also assisted with the family farm and cattle operation including cooking big meals for hay hands and doing the bookkeeping and taxes. After working all day from early morning to sometimes late at night alongside her husband, she always came home and fixed a meal for her family. She was a very good cook. She also helped her husband campaign in his political campaigns. She worked long hours most of her life. Roma's interests were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, her faith and her church, reading, singing, stamp collecting, coin collecting, recipe collecting, and antique collecting. She liked to watch the news, Hallmark movies, and Antiques Roadshow. She especially loved to read. She enjoyed her flowers and plants, her dogs when she had them, and the birds that came to her bird house, and she loved butterflies. She and Paul loved to travel. She enjoyed being with her family, attending their sporting events, and being present at any activity of which they were a part. Roma's life was an example of devotion to her family, home, and faith. She was kind, and she was beloved. Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Ray include her children: Paula Ray of Dixon; and twins, Jill Klein of Purdy, and Jon Ray and wife, Keri, of Dixon; her five grandchildren: Anthony Cross and wife, Ashley, of Huntersville, North Carolina; Kayla Ray of Dixon; Logan Ray and wife, Kayla, of Dixon; Scott Klein of Purdy; and Kelsey Sadler and husband, Chris, of Columbia; her six great-grandchildren: Khloe Irvin, Bennett Cross, Kamden Ray, Andrew Cross, Kade Ray, and Claire Cross; her brother: Donley Jones of Vienna; two brothers-in-law: Glen Guffey of Topeka, Kansas, and Robert Ray of Waynesville; six nephews, four nieces, with grandnephews and grandnieces and great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces as well; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Paul, on June 29, 2016; her father, Bennett, on July 20, 1995; her mother, Ethel, on March 8, 1970; her sister, Juanita Ruth Kardatzke, on January 10, 2020; one nephew, Marvin Guffey, on October 4, 2008; one niece, Debra Ray, on February 26, 1965; four sisters-in-law; and four brothers-in-law. Visitation for Mrs. Roma Lea Ray was held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., on Friday, September 4, 2020, in the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, 105 East Third Street, Dixon, Missouri 65459, and was followed by her funeral service at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel with Pastor Beverly Sharp and Pastor Jack Caple officiating. Interment was next to her husband, Paul, in the Fox Crossing Cemetery near Dixon under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Dixon. Pallbearers for Mrs. Ray were Anthony Cross, Logan Ray, Scott Klein, Bobby Ray, Austin Ray, and Heath Akery. Honorary pallbearers for her were Kayla Ray, Kelsey Sadler, Khloe Irvin, Bennett Cross, Kamden Ray, Andrew Cross, Kade Ray, and Claire Cross. Online condolences may be shared with the family of Mrs. Roma Lea Ray at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com