Barbara Jean Allen Ray was born March 3rd, 1936 and passed to her heavenly home on Sunday, February 9th, 2025, after a courageous journey battling three different types of cancer.
Barbara loved life, and she deeply loved her family. She took great pleasure in taking care of all types of plants and flowers, especially her roses and orchids. As an avid reader, Barbara could engage anyone in conversations on a variety of topics and world events. She enjoyed playing the piano and taught music during her younger years.
Barbara was a wonderful cook who often prepared her special chicken and dumplings at the constant request of her family. She greatly enjoyed traveling with her husband, daughter, and son-in-law. Their special adventures included trips out west and numerous trips to the beaches in Florida and the Carolinas. Barbara loved walking along the beach, searching for and collecting seashells.
She also enjoyed collecting Swarovski crystals and placing them in her windows, delighting in the reflected light which shone through each of them.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Wilson Blake Ray; her parents, Lonnie and Addie Jo Allen; two brothers: Jack (Thelma) Allen and Burdett (Una Mae) Allen of Burnsville, NC; two sisters: Wilma (Don) Ketchem of Ovedia, Florida, and Thelma (Charlie) Redmond of Bandon, Oregon.
She is survived by one daughter, Ramona (Jody) Cox, and two grandsons, Jonathan (Heather) Cox and David (Scarlett) Cox. Barbara also leaves behind five great-grandchildren who adored her: Barrett Cox, Harper Cox, Cassidy Cox, Olivia Cox, and Dawson Cox. She has several nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved very much, with one special niece, Cathy, whom she claimed as her own.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 13th in the chapel of Yancey Funeral Services. Rev. Jerry Shelton will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. prior to the services. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 14th in West Burnsville Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family would like to acknowledge Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge for all their support and kindness while attending to Barbara.
Special thanks goes out to Mrs. Naomi McDowell for her constant and gentle care.
The family would also like to recognize Tiffany, Alecia, Cigi, Cody, and Jessica for their dedication in providing compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge at 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777.
To send online condolences, please visit: www.yanceyfuneralservice.com
