John Albert Ray

DURHAM, NC– John A Ray age 69, died under hospice care at Duke University

Hospital, Durham, NC on Aug 28, 2023. He was born on April 30, 1954 in Johnstown,

PA to the late John ‘Jack’ Ray and Glenna Jean McCowan Marshall.

John was husband to Brenda ‘Bren’ Johnson Ray for 33 years, Dad to John Taylor

’T’ Ray and Samantha ‘Sam/Samish’ Hegedus, pap, brother, uncle and friend. He

was quick-witted, good natured, hardworking, loyal, competitive, honest and

unapologetically himself.

John or Pip as most of his family called him, graduated from Bowie High School in

Bowie, MD in 1972 where the majority of his memories stemmed from football and

the lifelong friends it gave him. John attended the University of Maryland where he

planned to play football until an injury sidelined him. He continued his college

studies and graduated from the University of Chapel Hill Wilmington in 1981 with a

BS in Chemistry, having the top GPA in chemistry two years in a row-with his name

on a plaque in the chemistry building. While earning his degree he worked for

Hardin Construction where he became the foreman for the company. He used the

construction skills endlessly throughout his life to complete renovations and projects

on every home he lived in and for numerous friends as well. After graduating from

UNCW he moved to the Research Triangle Park, NC working for both Union

Carbide Ag/Rhone Poulenc and Glaxo/GW/GSK. He loved chemistry, enjoying the

agricultural and medicinal chemistry fields. Anyone who had the pleasure of

working with him could feel this passion for research and helping on any project he

was assigned or was needed. The friends he made from work quickly became part

of his family, and for John that was more valuable than they would ever know. So

thank you to Todd Craig (Becky), Darryl McDougald (Slava), Cecilia Koble, Istvan

Kaldor (Aniko) and the late M Ross Johnson (Charlotte).

John was the biggest supporter and ‘coach’ for his kids in all their sports, most

notably on the golf course/baseball field for T and on the pool deck/cross country

course for Sam. If he wasn’t on the golf course himself, you could find him at a

monthly poker night w/work friends, on his screened porch listening to oldie classics

and telling his legendary stories of the ‘the good ole days’ or doing lawn/garden

work. John loved animals (we managed to bring home 11 pets as a family) and was

a true dog whisperer. He was one of the lucky ones who always considered work one

of his hobbies (chemistry and construction) and it was a good reminder that if you

love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. John had visited every state

but two (Alaska and Hawaii) and was always fond of any mountain getaway,

whether it be Appalachia Smokey or Rocky Mountains. As a family our vacations

normally boasted trips to PA to visit w/Pip’s family, Smith Mountain Lake, Emerald

Isle/Nags Heads w/friends/extended family, and memorably the Keys for his and

Bren’s 25th wedding anniversary.

John is survived by his wife, Brenda Johnson Ray, his children, Taylor Ray (Belen)

and Sam Hegedus (Ryan), his brother and sisters, Ed Ray (Joni), Tracy Mcevoy

(Bob), Tina McAndrew, Teri McWilliams (Jay), Kelly Marshall (John), 

his sister-in-law, Peggy Ray, brother in law George ‘Danny’ Johnson (Christi), his five nieces,

Jesse Previte (Anthony), Mandy Ray, Lyss Jones (Troy), Tori Ellenberger (Adrian)

and Eastan Hutchison and ten nephews, Jason Ray (Katlynn), Josh Ray (Missy),

Tyler McEvoy, Nate McEvoy, Noah McEvoy, Devin McAndrew, Zach McAndrew,

Mason McAndrew, Hunter Grimes and Cody Marshall plus nine great nieces and

nephews. And his extended family the Gramans: Saundra, Roger, Danielle and

Heather. Last but not least John (Pap) had three grandchildren, Leyla Ann Ray,

Maia Lu Ray and Reed John Hegedus, which he called ‘the little ones’ and when he

realized one day that they were his grandchildren he said ‘wow, I’m one lucky guy!’

John was preceded in death by his parents, John ‘Jack’ Ray (Vi) and Glenna Jean

Marshall (Daniel), his brother, Jeff Ray, brother-in-law, Jimmy McAndrew, his late

wife, Rita and his grandma, Mary Bennett ‘Mum Mum’.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in John’s honor to one of the programs below.

Donations can be mailed to:

Lundy Fetterman School of Business

PGA Golf Management

165 Dr. McKoy Road

Buies Creek, NC. 27506

https://business.campbell.edu/undergraduate-programs/pga-golf-management/

And/Or

Duquesne University Athletics in support of the Women’s Swimming and Diving

program. Donations can be mailed to:

Duquesne University Athletics

600 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15282

The Ray family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online

condolences: www.hallwynne.com.

We would like our thanks to the UNC Geriatric Team, Dr David Lynch, Bryan

Godfrey and his pallative care nurse, Emily Regan, his care companion Ms Margaret

Dobson, the staff at Calyx Living Memory Care and the Duke University Hospital

ER/Hospice Care team.