Obituary of Iva Hale Ray

Iva Hale Ray who spent most of her life in Roanoke passed away peacefully at her home at St. Mary’s Woods in Richmond on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Iva was born May 1, 1919 in Floyd, VA to the late Archie and Alva Hale. She is preceded in death by her husband Oliver C. Ray Jr., two sisters Eugenia Sisson and Glendola Howery, and a brother William Hale. She is survived by her son O. Clinton Ray III and his wife Jean of Richmond; grandsons William C. Ray and his wife Emily of Durham, NC and Brandon L. Ray and his fiancé Kara Hardie of Arlington. Also surviving are special nieces and nephews Nita and Buck Bailey, Bill and Barbara Combs, Glenna and Ed Hall, Alan Ray, Rebecca Richardson, Janie and Ronnie Feury, Wanda Lou and Steve Henry, Reggie and Sally Sisson, brother-in-law Stanford Ray and sister-in-law Dianne Hale. Iva graduated from Jefferson High School with the class of 1937. She worked numerous jobs after graduation but spent the majority of her time after marriage to OC as a loving mother and homemaker and they were members of Huntington Court Methodist Church. Her interests included growing beautiful flowers, handwork, antique collecting, spending time with family and she was an awesome cook! Iva loved a good joke and had an infectious laugh. She packed a lot of energy into her 95 years and never met a stranger! In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity in her name. Funeral services will be conducted 10 am Saturday, November 8, 2014 at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road with the Rev. E.E. "Dick" Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Shewood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Friday, November 7th at Simpson Funeral Home (540) 366-0707