Wonzie Harrell Ray, 86, passed away on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 pm at Breeland Funeral Home on Friday, February 8, 2019. Funeral services will be 11:00 am on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Raytown Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, step-father, husband, Aubrey F. Ray, and her beloved daughter, Dianne Ray Ervin.
“Mrs. Wonzie” was employed 38 years at Canton Academy as high school secretary and later as business manager, a job for which she did not apply. Canton Academy asked her to fill in for the high school secretary for six weeks, however; it took 38 years to finish the six weeks! She retired from Canton Academy on January 1, 2010.
On February 2, 1958, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended the Raytown Church located on Highway 17 where she taught the Adult Sunday School Class for many years. She was instrumental in tracing the history of the Raytown Branch which is the oldest “Mormon” Church in the State of Mississippi. The land on which the Church is built was deeded to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 20, 1906, and the Church built the same year, by her late husband’s family. The Church was dedicated in 1915 for time and all eternity.
Survivors include: sons, Aubrey Ray, Jr. and his wife Ginny of Kendallville, IN and Mitchell Ray of Canton; granddaughter, Bridgette Ervin Strickland of Canton; grandsons, Trip Ray and his wife Britta of Leander, TX and Casey Ray and his wife Danielle of Kendallville, IN; four great grandchildren; two nieces; and four nephews.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Lou McDonald Scholarship Fund at Canton Academy, P O Box 116, Canton, MS 39046
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