GREENVILLE — Carl James Ray, 74, of Greenville died Dec. 8, 2012, at his son’s home in Blanchard, Okla., after a courageous battle against cancer. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Minister Randy Daw officiating. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park in Greenville.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Carl was born June 18, 1938, in Dearborn, Mich., to Clifford and Lucille Ray. He graduated from Adamson High School in Dallas in 1957. He married Patricia Ann Duffy on Feb. 3, 1962, in Dallas.  

Carl served two years in the United States Marine Corps, worked for Morton Foods for 20 years as an independent food distributor and served as a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years until retirement. He attended Johnson Street Church of Christ in Greenville and the First United Methodist Church in Blanchard. Carl enjoyed watching his grandkids play sports, flying model airplanes, ranching and the outdoors. In his later years, he split his time between Greenville and Blanchard, Okla. Carl was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother and friend to many and will be deeply missed. His faith, laughter and good nature were a joy to all who crossed his path. Carl never met a stranger. During his almost three-year struggle with cancer, he relied on the Lord’s grace and never complained or questioned God’s plan.  

Survivors include his son, Greg and wife Linda Ray of Blanchard, Okla.; daughter Melanie and husband Ryon Gilliam of Greenville; sister-in-law Suellen and husband Ron Meilleur of Pineville, La.; brothers Charles and wife Jolynn Ray of Kissimmee, Fla. and Edwin and wife Terry Ray of San Antonio; five grandchildren who were the greatest joys of his life, Cole and Austin Gilliam and Zachary, Alexandra and Jacqueline Ray; several nieces and nephews; and numerous devoted longtime friends.   

He was preceded in death by one sister, Helen Marie Ray, on Nov. 21, 1932; his mother, Lucille Mary Barton, on Feb. 16, 1990; his father, Clifford C. Ray, on Aug. 10, 2001; and his much loved wife, Patti, on March 21, 2002.  

Pallbearers will be Mickey Kleber, Danny Keene, Chris Ray, Cole Gilliam, Zach Ray, and Austin Gilliam.  Honorary pallbearers will be Alexandra and Jacqueline Ray, Charles Ray, Andy Priest, Larry Godwin, Tim Gilliam and Jim Cleveland.

The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice of Texas, Heartland Hospice of Oklahoma, the Texas Oncology Center at Hunt Regional Medical Center, Dr. Timothy Ellington, Dr. Meera Shreedhara and Minister Randy Daw.  

Memorials are requested in lieu of flowers to be made to First United Methodist Church Building Fund in Blanchard, Okla., the Johnson Street Church of Christ Building Fund in Greenville, or the American Cancer Society.             

Online condolences may be made at www.cokermathews.com and www.heraldbanner.com.