Ray was born in Belen, NM on March 15, 1933 and raised by his mother Lily Shaw Merrill. He graduated from Belen High School in 1951 and worked as a call boy for the Santa Fe Railroad before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War where he was stationed in Panama as an interpreter. Upon his return, he married Frances Seery on September 12, 1955. He began working with the Railway Postal Service (RPS) and moved to El Paso in 1958. When the RPS was discontinued, he joined the US Postal Service where he worked for 46 years until retiring in 2003.
Ray was a devoted husband, father and friend. He was an avid sports fan, dedicated to his Dallas Cowboys in good times and bad, but his true passion was golf. He was happiest on the course, playing the greens with his in-laws and friends, telling tall tales and betting they’d miss their shots.
He was preceded in death by Lily Merrill, Jose Max Gallegos, Feliz Gallegos, Joe Gallegos (brother) and Vera Jaramillo (sister). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Ann, his 6 children, Roberta Riley, Dominic Shaw (Donna), Susanna Betts, Lillian Hernandez (Richard), Charles Shaw, Christopher Shaw (Shannon), Frank Gallegos (brother), 24 grandchildren and 10 ½ great grandchildren
Visitation will be held Thursday, December 5, from 5pm to 9pm at Funeraria del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave., with a rosary beginning at 7pm. Mass will be held December 6, at 12:30 pm at St. Joseph’s Church located at 3729 Hueco Ave. Interment will follow at 2pm at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Av. Pallbearers are Jeremy Wilson, Thomas Betts, Tyler Shaw, John David Shaw, Tristen Shaw, and Zachary Flynn, Julian Wilson Honorary pallbearers are Matthew Betts, Max Shaw, Jacob Shaw and Jordan Shaw. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Funeraria del Angel Central.
