Ray Emitt Irvine

Ray Emitt Irvine was born on March 30th, 1945 in Kalamazoo, MI, to his beloved parents, W. Ray and Leatha Irvine. Ray grew up at Gull Lake, MI and after graduating High School, Ray attended college in Virginia and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and later he earned his Master's Degree from Western Michigan University. His time at VMI instilled a lifelong affinity and love for Virginia.

After earning his Bachelor of Arts, Ray earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, ultimately earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel until his retirement from the Army in 1995. In 1968 at the height of the Cold War, Ray was stationed in West Germany near the border with Czechoslovakia to help protect our European allies and deter Russian aggression.

Ray returned to the United States in 1969, and after a short tenure as an Assistant Manager at a loan company in Battle Creek, Ray moved to Lansing, MI in 1970 and began his faithful service at the State of Michigan until retiring as Director of Professional and Management Services Division in 2001. The retirement was short lived, and yearning to accomplish even more in his life, Ray served as Purchasing Manager at Jackson National Life from 2001 to 2006, and as Purchasing Manager at CATA from 2006 until 2009, of which marked his permanent retirement.

In 1973, Ray met the love of his life Anne Elisabeth Arnold on a blind date, and the two were united in marriage on May 18th, 1974. In 1980 Ray was blessed with the birth of his beloved first child, a daughter; Sarah Anne Sainem Irvine. In 1985, Ray and his family relocated to nearby Okemos, MI and in 1988, Ray welcomed the birth of his dear son, Aaron Dennis Lee Irvine.

Ray was an active and faithful Christian, and instilled the importance and the teachings of Jesus Christ into his children, of which they are both forever thankful for. Ray was avid reader of history, and found great enjoyment in traveling throughout the United States and throughout the world with his family.

Above all, Ray was most happy when he was spending time with his family. Ray's kind, cheerful, compassionate, and loving nature will remain in the memory of all who those who were blessed to meet him.

Ray is survived by his wife of 51 years, Anne Elisabeth Irvine, his beloved children, Sarah Anne Sainem Gordon (Irvine) and Aaron Dennis Lee Irvine, his dear grandchildren Harsen James Gordon and Ethan Emitt Gordon, his adored sister, Maudie Eunice Jean DeHollander, and much loved niece Susan Cheryl DeHollander, and a multitude of close friends and military brethren.

Ray is preceded in his passing by his much loved parents, W. Ray Irvine and Leatha Irvine, and his dearly missed nephews Dennis Ray DeHollander and Timothy Lee DeHollander.

Ray Emitt Irvine will forever be remembered as a faithful Christian, a patriot, perfect father, and loving grandfather.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 18th at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing, with visitation beginning at 9:00 AM and the service starting at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at 1:00 PM at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI.

Donations can be made in Ray's honor to the MOAA Scholarship Fund.