Donald W. Ray

Donald W. Ray, 82, of Abbeville, husband of Mary Dansby Ray, passed away on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Mr. Ray was born in Bowman, GA to the late Thomas Gordon and Ressie Spearman Ray. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII where he served on the USS Aircraft Carrier the Saipan. Donald retired from the Milliken Abbeville Plant in 1992 after 42 years of employment. Mr. Ray was a member of the Lebanon Presbyterian PCA Church where he served as an elder for many years. He was active with the church youth and ministered to the church shut-ins. Mr. Ray was a Dixie Youth Baseball coach for many years and he served as chairman of the Little River Trust Board. Donald was a Shriner with membership at the Hejaz Temple and a Mason with membership at Abbeville Clinton Masonic Lodge. Mr. Ray loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman, hunter and gardener. He enjoyed woodworking and made cherished pieces of furniture for all members of the family. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Donald leaves behind fond memories with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Dansby Ray of the home; a daughter, Peggie Crawford and her husband Ed; two sons, Donny Ray and his wife Donna and Phillip Ray and his wife Terri; six grandchildren, Deke (Erin), Daniel (Kathy) and Matt (Sara) Crawford, Benjamin and Hannah Ray and Ty Ray; three great-grandchildren, Breeden, Miller and Lora Jane Crawford; two sisters, Grace Balchin and Rucella Cochran; and a brother, Kenneth Ray. He was preceded in death by six sisters, Kathleen Wallen, Estelle Davis, Willie Stevenson, Lora Simpson, Bobbie Potts and Juanita Ray. The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, June 4, 2010 at 11:00AM at Lebanon Presbyterian Church in Abbeville. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. The family is at the home. Memorial contributions, in memory of Donald Ray, may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Lebanon Presbyterian Church, 698 Mount Carmel Rd., Abbeville, SC 29620. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Ray family.