Paula Faye (Douglas) Ray

Paula Douglas Ray left this earthly life on December 8, 2025 at her home in Houston, Texas. She is survived by her sisters Emily and brother-in-law Curtis Kirby; Dorothy and brother-in-law James Crockett; son Glenn Ray and daughter-in-law Dana Christensen; Lee Ray and daughter-in-law Cindy Crawford Ray and two grandsons Austin and Ryan; daughter Carla Fortune and grandson Matthew Fortune, his wife Ashley, and two great grandchildren Harper and Mattis.

Paula was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Leo “Carl” Ray, Jr.; her parents Paul Fate Douglas and Emma Elizabeth Douglas.

Paula was born in Drew, Mississippi on August 15, 1938. Her father passed away suddenly when she was six and her mother raised the three girls with support of many family members. When Paula was ten, she and her sisters Emily (seven) and Dorothy (five) began performing as “The Douglas Sisters” – a role they would carry throughout their lives. Paula loved to sing and play piano. They performed on radio and television and traveled around Mississippi until their teens. When their mother, Elizabeth, could no longer care for them, they moved to Palmer Home for Children. When Paula graduated from SD Lee High School in Columbus (with honors) she moved to Jackson, Mississippi, taking care of her mother as well as providing a home for her two sisters.

Paula met Carl Ray in Jackson, and were married in 1960 in New Orleans. They moved to Irving, Texas, then settled in Houston in 1966. She was a loving mother and caregiver to both her mother and mother-in-law. In the mid 70’s, she became publicly active, working for the Alief Chamber of Commerce, then with a coalition of groups that successfully changed Houston’s annexation and elective representation. She and Carl were avid photographers and ran a successful wedding and portrait photography business until his passing in 1996. The business was carried on by their youngest son, Lee, with Paula graciously continuing to work alongside him.

Paula moved to northwest Houston and then began a new chapter in her life – both spiritually and entrepreneurially. She was very active with First United Methodist Church (Westchase) and began a sewing group called “Stitches of Glory” that made a variety of items for both church and mission fundraising as well as donated items, such as caps for cancer patients. They also volunteered in the Alief School District, teaching elementary children basic sewing. It was at this time that she invested in a commercial embroidery machine and ran a successful business of her own, “Paula’s Custom Embroidery”.

When she joined The Foundry Methodist Church (Jones Rd.), she became an active member of “Women Together in Church” and “Foundry Stitchers”. The sewing group sold handmade and embroidered items each year during their fall festival, earning several thousands of dollars for Cy-Hope and other church missions. Even during her final year battling cancer, she continued to make items for the church.

She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren immensely and enjoyed entertaining and doting on them. She was kind, charitable, and maintained an unyielding faith in God and Jesus as her Savior, to which no one could deny.

Paula’s Celebration of Life will be held at Foundry Methodist Church, 8350 Jones Road, Houston, TX on Monday, December 15th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Cy Hope (cy-hope.org) or Palmer Home for Children (palmerhome.org).