Rev. Joseph "Joe" M. Ray

Joe is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ruth Simons Ray, his four children and their spouses: Karen Fox (Ron) of Quitman, Texas, David Ray of Austin, Texas, Anne Ramsey (James) of Allen, Texas, Cary Ray (Mitzie) of Dallas, Texas, six grandchildren: Sarah Fox Cutting (Kevin), Mason Fox, Kate Beck (Jackson), Sam Ramsey (Diana), Corbin Ray and Kendall Ray, and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, James Simons, sister-in-law, Sammie Simons and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was born in Dallas, Texas on November 13, 1929, to Julian Moody Ray and Tressie Davidson Ray. He attended Dallas area schools, graduating from Crozier Tech in 1947. He continued his education at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where he met his future wife and many friends that would later become his colleagues. He graduated from Perkins School of Theology in 1954 and began his more than 50-year career in the Methodist clergy becoming ordained as an elder in the Southwest Texas Conference which is now the Rio Texas Conference.

Dedicating his life to the service of God, Joe was a powerful example of what commitment, purpose, and love for others calls us as Christians to be. He served as minister to congregations and adjacent communities in Combs, Schertz and Universal City, Palm Heights and Edgewood in San Antonio, Big Lake and Midkiff, Yoakum and Hope, Lockhart and Lytton Springs, Alice, Seguin and during retirement as an associate pastor in New Braunfels. Additionally, he served as District Superintendent of the Corpus Christi district for six years from 1983-1989.

Joe was an avid reader and a deep thinker. Many a young person would seek his counsel on biblical and philosophical matters. He also loved singing and had a beautiful tenor voice. From his days in the Southwestern University choir and Seminary Singers at SMU, to his solos during a service or sermon, he used his gift to praise.

A service of celebration will be held on January 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of New Braunfels.