JAMES M. RAY

James (Jim) McDonald Ray, 92, of St. Joseph, MO, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017, at

a local health care facility.

Mr. Ray was born September 16, 1924, to James W. and Eula (Borer) Ray in Hayti, MO. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

During WWII he served in the Navy as a Lieutenant in Naval Intelligence. On December 27, 1953, he married Polly Ann Stewart in Blytheville, AR. She preceded him in death along with his parents and sister, Helen Ray.

During the 1960’s, he and his brother Ed built the Ray Subdivision in Hayti Heights. Mr. Ray was also instrumental in starting Planned Parenthood in Southern Missouri and putting fluoride in the Hayti water system. Involving the entire community, he directed and staged a Nuclear Disaster Event which was pertinent to the area of Hayti and the times of the country. In 1966, he was named Hayti Man of the Year.

Mr. Ray’s passion was music and art. He wasknown to be found listening to classical music on Sunday afternoons in his downtown business, Ray’s Furniture Store. This passion of art led to his collecting art. To further art appreciation in his hometown, he hosted a champagne reception to introduce the Hayti community to an art exhibit of his Siegfried Reinhardt collection. Everyone in town was invited to the event. Because of his love of art, family vacations often rotated around artist’s homes, which he befriended, and museums.

In 1972, after losing his wife, his passion led him to a new career. He moved with his three daughters to St. Joseph, MO, to become the Director of the Albrecht Art Museum. He remained in this position for 19 years building a well-curated collection of prints and more.

Mr. Ray is survived by his three daughters Lisa Curran, of Kansas City, MO, Jama Gilpin, of

Aldrich, MO, and Anita Williams, of Lee’s Summit, MO; seven grandchildren Charles and Geoffrey

Curran, James, Ben and Ian Gilpin, Kristin Gilpin-Holliday and Stetson Williams; one great-

grandchild Kaylin Noel Holliday; and one brother, Edwin Ray of Estes Park, Colorado.

Daddy, we will miss you and those wonderful banana pancakes on Sunday morning as we were

growing up.

Cremation services are under the direction of the Heaton-Bowman-Smith and Sidenfaden Chapel.

A graveside memorial service and internment will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery on October 21 at

11:00 a.m. in Hayti, MO, with arrangements under the direction of the John W. German Funeral

Home.