Margie Faye Ray

Margie Faye Ray, of Waco, passed away at 11:05PM on January 10, 2018. Services will be at 1:00p.m., Monday, January 15, at Connally-Compton Funeral Directors, with Pastor David Cozart officiating. Interment will follow at Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitation with the family will be starting at 12:00p.m., at the Funeral Chapel the day of the service.

Margie was born to Alvin and Lorraine Smith on November 24, 1934, in Elk, Texas. She attended Waco, Mart and Riesel schools and graduated with the class of 1953 from Riesel High School. She moved to Austin after graduation and worked for the Steck Company. She met Samuel E. Ray in July 1953 while at the USO in Austin where she was a Jr. USO Hostess. Margie and Samuel were married in Austin, Texas, on December 24, 1953. To this loving union, three children were born; Sam, Jr., born in San Marcos, TX, Cynthia, born in Tripoli, Libya and Suzanne, born in Warner Robins, Georgia. Due to Sam’s Air Force career, they traveled extensively until his retirement in April 1972. Margie and her family made their home over the years in Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, Kansas and Tripoli, Libya. The Ray family returned to Waco in 1972, to begin their civilian life and rear their family.

Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Lorraine Smith, and one of the most precious things that came into her life, her toy poodle Gabbi.

Margie is survived by her best friend and loving husband of 64 years, Samuel E. Ray of Waco, her son Samuel E. Ray, Jr. and wife Beverly of Waco, her daughters, Cynthia Bucher and husband Randy of Valley Mills, and Suzanne Sinkey and husband Thomas of Temple. Her grandchildren include a grandson, Mike Bucher and wife, Jazmin, and granddaughters, Melissa Bucher, Mary Winter and husband Garrick-Cole, Kristina Ross and husband Curtis, and Meritza De La Rosa. She leaves seven great-grandchildren: great grandsons, Tyler Bucher, Michael De La Rosa, Aaron De La Rosa, and Benjamin Ross, and great granddaughters, Madelynn-Rose Winter, Abigail Murphree, and Jocelynn-Marie Winter. Margie leaves one brother behind, Jerry Smith of Riesel, and a multitude of family members from the Smith and Honey families.

Margie was a loyal and dedicated employee of J-Hawk Corporation, Combined Funding, Inc. and FCFC from April 1, 1974, until retirement January 6, 2010. Since retirement, she had been very pleased with her volunteer work at BSW Hillcrest Medical Hospital, but most of all the love and attention she had finally been able to give and receive with her family.

Margie was a kind, gentle and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and amazing friend to many over the years. She enjoyed her life to the fullest.

There was no greater love than the love that existed between Margie and Sam since 1953. This union was one that could only be separated by death. They agreed whomever went first would wait for the other.

In lieu of flowers, Margie as a breast cancer survivor had expressed that she would like for any memorials that are made in her memory to go towards the McClinton Cancer Center in Waco at BSW Hillcrest Hospital and can be mailed/given to BSW Central Texas Foundation, 2401 South 31st, Temple, TX 76508, or to the Susan G. Komen Central Texas Race for the Cure, PO Box 8504, Waco, TX 76714.

Arrangements under the direction of Connally-Compton Funeral Directors, Waco, TX.