Richard "Rick" McClain Ray

Richard “Rick” McClain Ray, age 82 of New Bern, North Carolina and formerly of Oak Island, Raleigh and Newland died on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, North Carolina.

Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton, North Carolina with military honors.

Entombment will be in the mausoleum of Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in Clayton, North Carolina.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the funeral home, prior to the service.

Rick was born in Wake County, North Carolina on February 9, 1944 to the late Robert Earl Ray and the late Swannie Catlett Ray. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his spouse and partner of 42 years William “Bill” Newsome; and brother, Robert Daniel Ray.

He graduated from Garner High School and Campbell University with a BBA in 1971. Rick resided in the Garner, North Carolina area until his retirement from the North Carolina Department of Revenue in 1998. He moved to the mountains of North Carolina, which he loved. He also spent a lot of time at his home on Oak Island. Rick retired as a Chief Petty Officer from the United States Naval Reserve. He then started his own tax consulting business and worked with many trucking companies throughout North Carolina until retiring again after 15 years.

He is survived by his sister, Edna Nauss of Kingsport, Tennessee; brother, Kelton Ray of Clayton, North Carolina; nieces and nephews, Valerie Blankenship (Blair) of Morehead City, North Carolina, Preston Ray (Sue) of Wendell, North Carolina, Frank Nauss, Sr. (Ellan) of Knoxville, Tennessee, Julie Durham Brooks (Bobby) of Kingsport, Tennessee, Lisa Brophy (Stephen) of Lumberton, Mississippi, and Rob Ray of Lancaster, South Carolina.

Online condolences may be made to the family at: www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com

In lieu of flowers, Rick requested memorials be made to the Richard M. Ray School of Business Endowment Fund of Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to assisting the Ray Family.