William Donald “Don” Ray, 75, of Knoxville, passed away on Nov. 28 at Methodist Medical Center.
Don was born to parents Chester B. and Frankie Chadwell Ray on Sept. 26, 1937, in Norris.
He was a veteran with the Air National Guard, attended the former Fairview Baptist Church in the Solway community, was a member of Bright Hope Masonic Lodge # 557 in Knoxville, and he enjoyed woodworking as well as fishing, being a nature lover by heart.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Ray.
Don’s survivors include his wife, Patricia Ray of Knoxville; son, William Donald Ray II of Kingston; daughters, Gerri Johnson (David) of Charleston, S.C., and Linda Ray of Mineral Bluff, Ga.; brother, Jack Ray (Allene) of Norris; grandchildren, Brian Adcock, James Adcock, William D. Ray III, Dalton Ray, Kimberly Johnson, and Eric Johnson; and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and doctors in the ICU department of Methodist Medical Center for their care and concern they gave to Don and his family.
A Masonic service will be Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary, followed by the funeral service with Rev. Glenn Ellis officiating.
The graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be in the form of donations to the Kidney Foundation or to charity of choice.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 5–7 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary.
An online guest book may be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.
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