Ray Allen Feaster was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on February 26, 1942, to Charlie and Corean Feaster. The family later relocated to Las Vegas in 1946. He attended the historic Las Vegas Westside Elementary School in 1948 and Las Vegas High School in 1956. He was the youngest of his large family that consisted of five siblings: Alene Williams, Charles Edwards Feaster, Richard Lee Feaster, Roy Feaster, and Earnestine Feaster who all preceded him in death.
A mischievous child who was very good with his hands was mentored by Mr. Fitzgerald, a woodshop teacher. He greatly influenced him and recognized his natural ability to draw anything and taught him manuscript and cursive writing. He emphasized the value of using math and art skills in building construction. This led him to learn how to measure lumber, read and draw house and plot plans. This ultimately assisted him in not only helping with framing houses in the neighborhood surrounding the Madison School area on the Westside, but this experience also led him to building more than ten custom homes in Las Vegas Valley and eventually in building four family homes of his own.
In 1962, he met and married Daisy Bell Reid. Now a husband and father, he worked in the hotel industry for a few years. Then in 1966, Ray Allen Jr. was born but sadly passed away. Eventually he landed a position in the Arts and Layout department of the black newspaper, “The Voice”, where he was able to utilize his manuscript and silkscreen skills. After working at the Voice, he quickly realized that he much preferred to be author of his own destiny and decided to attend Air Conditioning School. After graduating from Air Conditioning School, he went on to establish his own air conditioning business where he served the communities in Nevada and California. He was a licensed AC Contractor for over five decades.
Ray was an extremely talented man who taught himself the guitar and how to draw and paint. He created floats for community parades, as well as making signs for community protests. He was knowledgeable in many different fields and provided his wisdom whenever possible. He was a fighter, go-getter, and visionary who never saw a thing for what it was, but more for what it could be.
Ray is survived by his daughters Regina and Anedia Feaster and granddaughter Kristen Da’rae Grayson, former wife Jessica Coleman, his stepchildren Raven and Glen Coleman, step-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Ray will forever be remembered for his tenacity, determination, and stubbornness. All of which, shaped him into the man we knew and loved.
