James “Jim” Franklin Ray went to his heavenly home on October 31, 2023 at the age of 80. Jim was a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Friend to all who knew him. Jim was a member of Greenwood Baptist church in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
Jim was born on September 26, 1943 to the parents of Sisle and Elizabeth Ray, in the Forge Ridge community in (Claiborne County) located on the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia and close proximity to historical Cumberland Gap in East Tennessee. Jim was the first born of six children and grew up attending the Mt. Gilead Baptist church, where he was saved and baptized August 21, 1955. Jim worked on his family’s farm and helped with the Ray family’s grocery store. Following his high school graduation, Jim attended Lincoln Memorial University where he received his Degree. Immediately after college Jim went on to serve his country proudly in the United States Army. Jim did his basic training and was stationed for his military service at the Army base at Fort Jackson located in Columbia South Carolina. While Stationed at Fort Jackson, he met his life-long partner and beautiful wife Muriel “Mickey” Elaine Ray and they have been married for 58 Years.
After proudly serving his country in the Army, and marrying Mickey, Jim moved to Belleville, Michigan and worked at the Ford Motor Company Plant for a couple of years. He then returned to the beautiful hills and mountains of Greeneville, Tennessee, in East Tennessee, where he started his family. Jim began his life long career and service to his local community and the State of Tennessee joining the Tennessee law enforcement group, The Alcoholic Beverage Commission in Memphis, Tennessee. Jim was known as what the old timers call (A Revenuer), locating and busting up illegal moonshine stills across the Western portion of Tennessee and also regulating liquor stores and night clubs serving alcoholic beverages. Jim and Mickey lived in Memphis for 10 years, raising their son. Jim was promoted and transferred to the Chattanooga, Tennessee district of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission to serve the remainder of his 38 year professional law enforcement career with the State of Tennessee as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) before retiring. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, going to yard sales, buying and selling, trading anything from cars to yard sale items. After his retirement, Jim enjoyed fishing with his son, Alan, and teaching his then two adored small granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Callie, how to fish.
Jim is preceded in death by his father, Sisle Brady Ray and mother Mary Elizabeth Ray.
Jim is survived by his wife, Muriel (“Mickey”) Ray, of Ooltewah TN; son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Denise Ray of Ooltewah, TN; granddaughters and their husbands, Kaitlyn Ray and Colby Arendale of Columbia, SC and Callie Ray and Brandon Vandemark of Ooltewah, TN; his living brothers and sisters and spouses, David and Pat Ray of Speedwell, TN, Kenny and Debbie Ray of Greeneville, TN, Bill Ray of Greeneville, TN, Carolyn and Lloyd Seaton of Mosheim, TN, and Cindy Collins of Mosheim, TN, along with many other nieces, nephews, cousins and many close family friends.
Jim is in his Heavenly Home with Jesus Christ his lord and Savior, awaiting the reunion with his family and friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 4 PM Sunday, November 5, 2023 in the funeral home chapel with Reverend Dr. Chris Dover officiating. A private family interment will be held.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Jim's honor to Greenwood Baptist Church, 8529 Snow Hill Road, Ooltewah, TN 37363 or the American Heart Association, 519 East 4th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403.
Please visit www.chattanoogavalleyviewchapel.com to share your memories of Jim.
The family will receive friends from 1 - 4 PM Sunday, November 5, 2023.
Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
