Dessie Odell Ray

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 30, 2013, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, Abilene. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson, Texas, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be Dessie’s nephews. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Dessie was born November 3, 1923 to Clifton Caswell Whitehurst and Addie Jane Atwood Whitehurst in San Angelo, Texas. She married Johnny Victor Ray on May 8, 1943 in Abilene. Dessie was employed as a hospital Dietician Department Supervisor for 27 years. She loved spending time with her family, cooking, and telling stories about her younger days. Dessie was a Methodist.

Dessie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Johnny Victor Ray; her daughter, Sue Smith; a grandson, Laroy Willis Smith; two brothers; and two sisters.

Survivors include her son, Alvin Ray of Hawley; a brother, Kenneth Wayne Whitehurst of Winters, Texas; four grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, Texas 79605 or Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.

You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliotthamilfuneralhome.com