Clifford Earl Ray age 71 of Gowen died at home Sunday March 29, 2009.
He was born near Custer MI on June 22,1937 the son of Earl and Florence M. Nash Ray. He was a graduate of Custer High School where he excelled in Basketball and Baseball playing on the State Class D Championship baseball team. He joined the US Marines and served his country in 1956. Clifford married Sylvia E. Malliett in Ludington on August 10,1957. Together they raised their family living in California Grand Rapids and Lake Odessa area. He was very active in the Scouting program with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America serving as scout master with the Gerald R. Ford Council where he touched many young lives. He was employed by the State of Michigan as supervisor of the furniture factory for the Ionia Reformatory. His greatest skills were as a family man and a story teller. He will be missed by all who loved him.
He is survived by his wife Sylvia of Gowen and their children Daniel C. and Julie Ray of Grandville, Elizabeth J. and Howard Alexander of Greenville, Joseph A. and Toni Ray of Kentwood and Rachel A. and Tim Lubitz of Belding, 12 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, his sisters, Edith and David Lilleberg of Custer, Lillian and Gary Seiy of Ludington, Dorothy and Michael Monroe of Tampa FL, his wifes family, Lowell and Barbara Malliett of Illinois, Patricia Elliott of Wyoming, Fred and Marilyn Malliett of Ludington, Ingrid and Jack Harmon of Montague, Dorothy Dougherty of Grand Rapids, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. His grandson Kevin Ray preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held on Friday April 3, 2009 at 11 AM at Hurst Funeral Home with his brother-in-law Dr. Lowell Malliett officiating.visitation will be on Thursday from 7 to 9 PM with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Custer Michigan.
