Rebecca Ray Knowles

Rebecca Ray Knowles, 85, passed away on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. She was born on September 10, 1931 in Wallace, NC to the late Calvin Simms Ray Jr. and Janie Mae Brown Ray.

Becky had a firm faith in God through Jesus Christ, which served her well throughout her entire life. She was blessed to grow up in a strong Presbyterian family who nurtured her faith in home and at church and provided her with a good Presbyterian education, sending her to Montreat College and Flora McDonald College. She loved to tell the story of waiting on Billy and Ruth Graham in the dining room at the Assembly Inn at Montreat where she worked as a waitress while in college.

Becky was blessed with a cheerful personality, a loving heart and a genuine regard for others. Because of her young-at-heart attitude, good health, and vigorous lifestyle, people were always astonished when they learned her true age. She was a great role model as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She comes for a large, loving, extended family that Becky saw every year at their annual family reunions. She was so proud of her Brown Clan.

Becky lived internationally, including Japan, Germany, and camping across Europe with her young children in tow. Moving whenever the Military called, Becky took full advantage of the new and foreign places. She was an adventurer at heart. She was also a master seamstress and animal activist.

Known by many for her years in Real Estate, Becky was also an avid member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. She served as a deacon, as a Stephen minister, mentored numerous confirmation classes and was a regular participant in Bible studies and other adult classes at Trinity. With her love of gardening, she regularly planted and maintained a beautiful garden in the church courtyard, faithfully watering it during the dry times of summer.

She is loving remembered by her five children: Kathy and Robert Williams, of Rocky Mount, Mike and Gerry Knowles, of Holly Springs, Barbara Knowles, of Raleigh, Bob and Donna Knowles, of Zebulon and Lisa and Daryl Tunstall, of Raleigh; eleven grandchildren and their spouses: Heather (Tia), Wesley (Lindsey), Dan (Katie), Aaron, Matt (Jess), Melissa (Curtis), Adam (Jillian), Corinne (Andrew), Leigh, Rachel and Drew; five great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Reid, Sophia, Wesley III and Raegan; siblings: William C. and Jesse Ray, of Hillsborough and Earleene and L.R. Baker, of Fayetteville; and by other family and friends, including her extensive Brown Clan.

Family will receive friends on Monday, November 14, 2016 from 12-2 pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church, with Services officiated by Pastor David Huffman to begin at 2 pm. Private graveside services will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations made in Becky’s memory to Trinity Presbyterian Church – 3120 New Hope Road – Raleigh, NC 27604.