William "Rawhide" Ray

William J. "Rawhide" Ray, 64, of Stockdale, passed away unexpectedly in the emergency room at Mon Valley Hospital on Sunday, July 11, 2010. A son of the late Walter and Mary Killius Ray, he was born May 2, 1946 in North Charleroi. A 1965 graduate of California High School, Rawhide worked for over 20 years as a bottler at the former Jones Brewing in Smithton before becoming a crew-driver at Campbell Transportation Co. A Catholic by faith, he was a life member of the Stockdale Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Roscoe Sportsman's Club, and an avid hunter. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Elizabeth, with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 6, 2010; a son and daughter-in-law, David J. and Alisa Ray of Monessen; a daughter and son-in-law, Melissa Ray and J.J. Georgagis of Roscoe; his grandchildren, whom he cherished and adored, Ashton and Tessa Ray, Athena, Anastasia, and Niko Georgagis; his sisters, Agnes Jean Jenkins and Rosemary Dranzo and husband Carl; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Joe and Judy Kalish, Nancy and Gary Macik, and John Tunney; numerous nieces and nephews; and his black lab, Sally. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Fred A. Ray, and sister, Barbara Tunney. Friends will be received at the Melenyzer-DuBarr Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc., 1008 Furlong Avenue, Roscoe, on Tuesday, July 13, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Blessing Service for Rawhide will be held in the funeral home at 3 p.m. with the Stockdale Fire Department conducting their service at 7 p.m. Interment will be at the convenience of the family.