Inez B. Ray, a 60-year-resident of Riverton, died Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Riverton Memorial Hospital at the age of 86.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 27, at the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton. The Rev. Don Schlichting of the United Methodist Church of Riverton will officiate.
Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
There will be a viewing from 9-10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Inez Belle Mikeska was born in Caldwell, Texas, on May 23, 1920, the only child of John Bartis Mikeska and Mary Jane (Caldwell) Mikeska of Moravian and English descent.
She grew up in Caldwell and met her future husband at Hickman Air Force Base.
On Oct. 26, 1946, she married Joe W. Ray in Billings, Mont. She came to Riverton from Texas with her new husband in 1946. He preceded her in death on July 22, 1990.
Mrs. Ray had been a homemaker, a motel manager at the El Rancho in Riverton, and kitchen worker at Riverton Junior High before she and her husband retired in 1980.
Following retirement they spent summers at the family cabin near New Fork Lakes outside Pinedale. While both were avid fisherman, Mrs. Ray held the family record for the biggest fish caught -- a 16 pound mackinaw from New Fork Lakes. Her family said the couple also enjoyed feeding the small animals around their cabin and traveling in their motorhome.
Mrs. Ray was described as an avid gardener, bird feeder, reader, television fan, and a staunch Wyoming Cowboys and Denver Broncos fan.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Ray is survived by a daughter, Mardale Gillett of Riverton; a son, Larry Ray of Jackson; her companion, Gato the cat; sister-in-law, Sally Ray; nephew Ted Ray and wife Jody, all of Riverton; nephews, Bob Ray of Casper, Bill Ray and wife Donna of Shekou, China; nieces, Janet Ray and husband Mark Stelling of Farmington, N.M., and Penny McNeer of Eugene, Oregon; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Brown and Ethylene Ray, both of Creston Iowa, Gladys Spainhower of Afton, and Vera Stream of Shannon City, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews in Iowa, relatives in Texas, and friends in Riverton.
In addition to her husband, Joe W. Ray, Mrs. Ray was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother, Pinkie Mikeska; in-laws, Joe and Essie Leona (Bullock) Ray; sister-in-law, Grace Ray of Creston, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Rusty Spainhower and Alan Stream.
Memorials in her name may be made to the local animal shelter or the Meals on Wheels program in care of the Davis Funeral Home, 2203 West Main, Riverton WY 82501.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 27, at the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton. The Rev. Don Schlichting of the United Methodist Church of Riverton will officiate.
Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
There will be a viewing from 9-10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Inez Belle Mikeska was born in Caldwell, Texas, on May 23, 1920, the only child of John Bartis Mikeska and Mary Jane (Caldwell) Mikeska of Moravian and English descent.
She grew up in Caldwell and met her future husband at Hickman Air Force Base.
On Oct. 26, 1946, she married Joe W. Ray in Billings, Mont. She came to Riverton from Texas with her new husband in 1946. He preceded her in death on July 22, 1990.
Mrs. Ray had been a homemaker, a motel manager at the El Rancho in Riverton, and kitchen worker at Riverton Junior High before she and her husband retired in 1980.
Following retirement they spent summers at the family cabin near New Fork Lakes outside Pinedale. While both were avid fisherman, Mrs. Ray held the family record for the biggest fish caught -- a 16 pound mackinaw from New Fork Lakes. Her family said the couple also enjoyed feeding the small animals around their cabin and traveling in their motorhome.
Mrs. Ray was described as an avid gardener, bird feeder, reader, television fan, and a staunch Wyoming Cowboys and Denver Broncos fan.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Ray is survived by a daughter, Mardale Gillett of Riverton; a son, Larry Ray of Jackson; her companion, Gato the cat; sister-in-law, Sally Ray; nephew Ted Ray and wife Jody, all of Riverton; nephews, Bob Ray of Casper, Bill Ray and wife Donna of Shekou, China; nieces, Janet Ray and husband Mark Stelling of Farmington, N.M., and Penny McNeer of Eugene, Oregon; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Brown and Ethylene Ray, both of Creston Iowa, Gladys Spainhower of Afton, and Vera Stream of Shannon City, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews in Iowa, relatives in Texas, and friends in Riverton.
In addition to her husband, Joe W. Ray, Mrs. Ray was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother, Pinkie Mikeska; in-laws, Joe and Essie Leona (Bullock) Ray; sister-in-law, Grace Ray of Creston, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Rusty Spainhower and Alan Stream.
Memorials in her name may be made to the local animal shelter or the Meals on Wheels program in care of the Davis Funeral Home, 2203 West Main, Riverton WY 82501.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.