Shirley Ray

Shirley Dodson Ray, 81, of Waco, passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2011 in a local care center. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church with Dr. Ed Carter officiating. Burial will follow the service at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with her family will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd.

Shirley was born September 20, 1929 in Smithville to P. J. Dodson and Marjorie Dietz Dodson. She was an Educator, Teacher and Adminstrator for more than 43 years serving in the Corpus Christi Independent School District for 25 years and then in the Calallen ISD for 18 years. Shirley married John D. Ray, August 12, 1950 in Bastrop. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Association of Texas Professional Educators and the Texas Retired Teachers Association. Shirley was also a member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Virginia.

Shirley is survived by her husband, John D. Ray of Waco; daughter, Ellen Stauffer and husband, Mike of Manhattan, Kansas; sons, Daniel Ray of Boyle, Ireland and Andy Ray and wife, Dawn of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Luke and Jill Stauffer both of Manhattan, Jimmy Ray of Boyle, Ireland, Brittney Ray of Nashville and Chris Ray and wife, Heidi of Escondido, California; her sister, Dot McCreary of Austin; and her brother, Bob Dodson of Waco.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church Men's Bible Study Class.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 6605 Sanger Avenue, Suite 1, Waco, Texas 76710