Harvey Eugene "Gene" Ray, 84, Harrisonville, MO died Friday, May 20, 2011 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Council Hill Cemetery in Council Hill, OK. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice Foundation, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114.


Gene was born November 28, 1926 in Natura, OK to Elmer and Clemmie (Edwards) Ray. He graduated from Council Hill High School in 1945 and attended Okmulgee Technical School. On January 27, 1948 he was united in marriage to Ava Pruitt.

Gene worked for Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, retiring in 1986. He was an avid reader and loved to fish. As a young man he participated in many sports and continued to enjoy watching them throughout his life.


Gene was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Harry Ray and daughter-in-law, Joann; two brothers, Jim Ray and Roy Ray and two sisters, Nellie Edmundson and Wanda Harvey. He is survived by his wife, Ava (Pruitt) of the home; one daughter, Shirley Veatch and husband, Rick, of Lone Jack, MO; three brothers, Floyd Ray of Vancouver, WA, Bill Ray of Grants Pass, OR and Bob Ray and wife, Jeanine, of Shalimar, FL; five grandchildren, Josh Ray and wife, Laura, Audra Bryson and husband, Chip, Courtney Hull and husband Ryan, Olivia Veatch-Coyle and husband, Jamie and Aaron Veatch and wife, Ashley; eight great-grandchildren, Madi, Kylie, Lindsey, Macie, Dominic, Sydney, Corbin and Ryleigh.