The angels were smiling and slapping their knee when they welcomed Mrs. Jerry Ray through the pearly gates. The matriarch of the Ray family with the larger than life personality spent her entire life in Harding County. A ranch wife and avid hunter, she worked hard and played harder. With a twinkle in eye, her escapades seem to grow in size with each passing year. The memories made will be cherished, and even though our hearts ache, we know that when riding the canyons or chasing the lion with the hounds, “Grandma Jerry” will be right there in the mix. With a heart of gold, she had prepared the following obituary prior to her death:
Geraldine “Jerry” Cates Ray passed away January 9, 2014 . Her ashes will be scattered over the Ray Ranch Canyon west of Roy, following a private family memorial.
Jerry was born 6 miles west of Mills, New Mexico on July 25, 1924 to Roy and “Ma Sally” Cates. She attended grade school in Mills, New Mexico, high school in Roy, New Mexico, and college at Las Vegas, New Mexico.
She met and married George H. Ray Jr. on December 8, 1944, and was blessed with one daughter, Donna Ray, and two sons George H. “Dusty” Ray III and Joe Roy Ray. Jerry was a real ranch woman that loved her family and felt blessed that they were all near her doing ranch work. She was an avid big game hunter. Her sons Dusty and Joe Ray and brothers Jack and Johnny Cates had a hard time keeping up with her.
She was a member of the New Mexico Cattlegrowers, charter member of New Mexico Cowbelles, past member of Eastern Star Mitpah Chapter 47 of Roy, New Mexico, Roy School Board, sponsor for Roy High School FFA and Cheerleaders, and American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of a Country Western Band, “The Gloom Chasers” that broadcast over KFUN Radio Station in Las Vegas, New Mexico, during the early 1940s. Jerry was the lead singer and fiddle player at all the dances at Rigoni Ballroom, fair dances, and the Farley Gym.
She is survived by her daughter Donna Ray, granddaughter Senesa Stinebaugh, great-granddaughter Sariana Grossetete, son Dusty Ray and wife Sandy, granddaughter Wendy and husband Trey Miller, great grandsons Jayden, Brenden, Talen and Quinn Miller, grandson Rocky Pryor Ray, son Joe Roy Ray and wife Jeannine, brother Johnny Cates and wife Janet, and many nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by her husband George H. Ray Jr., her parents Roy and “Ma Sally” Cates, sister Pat Moore, and brother Jack Cates.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 531313 Henderson, NV. 89053 Ph # 888-633-3937
Arrangements are under the direction of the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home of Raton, NM.
I am so saddened by the death of Jerry. I always admired her and her family. She was a terrific person who always had a smile for you and was extre,ely positive. Thoughts and prayers to her family