Cleo "Ray" Shockley

Born November 24,1924, to parents Al and Elsie (Huff) Shockley in Mayfield, KY. Ray was the youngest of five siblings, 2 boys and 3 girls. Growing up in the Depression shaped Ray’s outlook throughout his life.

Ray served honorably in the US Navy from March 3,1943 until February 14,1946. Ray’s modest account of his service included serving as a Radarman 3rd class on the USS Macomb DMS-23, participating in the D-Day invasion, a close call as a gunner after switching places with another sailor just before they were attacked by a Kamikaze that killed his buddy, Jim, and witnessing firsthand the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. The order of his service is as follows: Enlisting in 1943, and following training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Ray traveled to Boston where he was assigned to the USS Macomb. From Boston, the Macomb sailed to the Mediterranean with stops in Oran Algeria and Italy. Nearing Italy, the Macomb, along with several Navy ships, spotted, chased, and captured the Nazi Uboat 616, sinking it after removing its crew. Following this action, Ray and his fellow crew then traveled to the south of France, shelling its coastal regions as part of the D-Day diversionary operation. The USS Macomb was then retrofitted from a destroyer to a Navy Minesweeper at Charleston South Carolina. Sailing in January 1945, the Macomb was ordered into action at the battle of Okinawa where they fought and were struck by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft. Following the Okinawa action, the Macomb took part in the array of US Navy ships in Tokyo Bay during the Japanese surrender of 1945. After, Ray and his shipmates were ordered to mine sweep in and around the Japanese islands.

On his return home after the war, Ray literally jumped out of the window of a moving street car to meet a pretty girl pushing her bicycle in the opposite direction. He pushed her bicycle all the way to her home and soon married the love of his life, Alpha Mae “Dutch” Engler on November 29,1946. Ray and Dutch were married for 71 years, raised two sons and enjoyed grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ray supported his family through 28 years of employment with the Phillips Petroleum Corp.

Ray lived the last years of his life with his beloved son Jim and daughter-in-law Winnie. He was considered a national treasure by scores of friends and neighbors who celebrated him frequently with a cozy fire and a cold beer in the Ray Shockley Drumm Room.

Ray was proceeded in death by son, Scot, in 2002, and wife, Dutch, in 2018.

Ray is survived by Jim (son) and Winnie Shockley, Jason (grandson) and Jen Shockley, Jennifer (granddaughter) Shockley, Leslie (granddaughter) Shockley and numerous great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Friday, July 24th at Floral Hills Funeral Home (7000 Blue Ridge BLVD Kansas City Missouri 64133). Visitation will begin at 4:30pm with funeral service started at 5:15pm, followed by a graveside service.

Memorial donations made be made to Patriot Features (https://www.patriotfeatures.org/donate/)

To view Ray’s legacy go to: https://www.patriotfeatures.org/portfolio/ray-shockley/