Jean Bowen Ray

Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless all of those I love.” Mama was on her way to Heaven before her last breath. Jean B. Ray peacefully passed into God’s arms on March 7, 2014 at Scott and White Hospital in Round Rock.

Jean was born September 7, 1921 in a farmhouse in Killeen, Texas to Charlie Roe and Annie Lee Bowen. Jean was the youngest of all the beautiful Bowen girls; her older sisters were Annie Roe and Mary Florence. The former Miss Killeen, Jean graduated from Killeen High School and attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College where she met the one and only Pete Ray. A year later, Pete called from Houston and Jean jumped on a bus, this was the beginning of one heck’uva marriage. Their only child, a son, Ricky, was born in 1945. Pete joined Jean and Ricky six months later after returning from the war in the Pacific. The Ray’s were like the three musketeers until 1966 when Ricky married Susan Elliott who they both loved as a daughter. Jean retired with 30 years of service from the Federal Government. She was an avid sports fan (both her brother in law, Leo Buckley and her son Ricky, coached the Killeen Kangaroos.) Jean pulled hard for the Roos, Longhorns, Cowboys, Rangers, Braves and her favorite golfer, Old Lefty, Phil Mickelson. She also loved to party and dance with her friends and family. Jean also loved bridge, dominoes, and crossword puzzles. Sports Note: Pete, Jean, and grandson, Tommy, had a hole in one on the same hole at Killeen Municipal.

Jean fought illness for many years before she finally won the battle to join her loved ones in Heaven. Jean was preceded in death by her Mother and Father, a sister Mary Florence (Toncie) Young, her beloved husband Pete and a cherished son in law, Shane Ingram. She is survived by her dear sister, Annie Roe Buckley, her loving son and daughter in law, Ricky and Susan. Also, her grandchildren who she helped raise, Mandy Wells, and husband Chip, Keri Rapier and husband Coby, and Tommy Ray and wife Sherri. Jean has six wonderful and loving great grandchildren, Madison Ingram, Ashley Allison, Garrett Ingram, Jake Wells, Adam Keller, and Cira Rapier. Also many nephews, nieces and friends, both on Earth and in Heaven.

Visitation will be 5:30pm – 7:00pm Sunday March 9, 2014 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen,TX, the funeral service will be at 10:00am Monday, March 10, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Killeen. The interment will follow the service at Live Oak Cemetery in Youngsport. David Sadler will be the Lead pallbearer. Honorary pallbearers: Bill and Barbara Sadler, Paul and Marlene Zipperlen, Eddie and Joy Oliver, Kenny and Carol Jean, Tommy Whitley, Beth Tindell, Pat Bourne, and Churchill (Bud) Duncan.

All of Jean’s family would sincerely like to thank Beth and the staff at Park Place Assisted Living in Georgetown. Mama felt the this was her family away from home.

You may share your condolences with the Ray family by visiting www.crawfordbowersfuneralhome.com