Beatrice Virginia Ray

Beatrice Virginia Leonard Ray, 96, passed away Thursday, November 15, 2012 at a local nursing center in Abilene. Funeral services will be 3:00p.m., Sunday, November 18, 2012 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory St., Abilene. Burial will follow in Drummond Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.

The third of four daughters, Beatrice Virginia Leonard was born on October 27th 1916 to her father, George Washington Leonard and her mother, Sallie Willie Heffernan Leonard; in southwest Taylor County, and passed from this earth on November 15th, 2012 after a long struggle with dementia.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her three sisters, Ruby Fay Young of Abilene, Gladys May Rock of Tuscola and Laura Ozella Talley of Lubbock and Waco; her two husbands, a son Ellis, and a beloved niece Rita Faye Moss of Abilene.

Beatrice was married to Lynn Ray from Pritchett, Texas for 47 years until his passing on March 13th, 1981.

On February 20th, 1988 she remarried and enjoyed a few years of companionship with long time Abilenian Oley Morris before his passing on, November 28th, 1995.

From her first marriage Mrs. Ray was blessed with two children, Gary Lynn Ray of Mansfield and Laura LaDonna Kelley of Booneville, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Gregory Wade Ray of Garland, Rebekah Ruth Ray of Mesquite, Jamie Renee Kelley Loftin of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Julie Lynn Kelley Flowers of Clarksdale, Mississippi; ten great-grandchildren, Gary David Ray, Jarrod Alan Hatch, Katherine Elizabeth Loftin, Cameron Jay Loftin, Carson Stephenson Ray, Gaines Scott Flowers, Jonathan Harry Flowers, Caleb Mason Ray, Isabella Elizabeth Ray, London Makayla Ray; a favorite niece, Floy Dell Young Reeves; and numerous nieces and nephews. She and Granddad Lynn, lost one little boy, Ellis, the day after his April 13th, 1940 birth.

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