Ray was born on Oct. 4, 1949, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, to a military family. Early on, he served a tour in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Thailand for part of the time. He also spent two years as a civilian courier in Vietnam. Ray graduated from Oregon State University in 1977. He married and moved to Norman to work as a hydrologist for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, where he remained for 27 years, even getting promoted to become DEQ’s Environmental Program Manager at age 70.
Ray was kind and wise, with many dimensions. He spent his life caring for the cats, dogs, geese, and other creatures who found their way to his acreage near Lake Thunderbird. He was an avid animal rights advocate and especially cared for the hummingbirds that came by.
Ray was conscientious about the environment and spent his career ensuring that Oklahoma’s water was safe and our hazardous cleanup sites were safer. Colleagues called him the ‘go-to’ guy who well earned his expert status. He also took time to mentor those who came after him. All the while, he kept meticulous notes about his work, life and times.
Ray had a passion for science fiction and wrote many short stories, some of them published. He left behind a few unpublished novels and was a longtime member of the Dorsal Fin Society, a sci-fi writers club in Norman.
One of his biggest accomplishments came when he won first place in the Writers of the Future contest, a national sci-fi writers’ competition. Critics called his story “a bonafide masterpiece.” This honor came with to a trip to Hollywood and his story being published in an anthology of sci-fi stories.
Ray was also proud of his Native American heritage with the Pottawatomie Indian tribe.
Ray is survived by two brothers, Scotty Roberts of Tulsa, and Lance Roberts of Oklahoma City, and their spouses, and by his close friend of xx years, Ben Fenwick, and his spouse. Ray was preceded in death by his wife Pam Mercer and his parents, William Martin Roberts and Franziska Przybylek.
May he Rest In Peace.
Memorial services are set for noon Saturday, April 17, at Primrose Funeral Home in Norman. In lieu of flowers please donate to Second Chance Animal Sanctuary in Norman, 405-321-1915.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18