LURA M. RAY
Died Nov. 26, 2007
Lura Morse Tolman Ray, 74, of 1206 E. Pine St., died Monday evening at Pitt Memorial Hospital.
A native of Cherryfield, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Carroll Leroy Morse and Flossie Grant Morse. After her father moved his family in 1940 to Portland, Maine, in order to find work, she grew up and attended community public schools in southeast Portland. Upon graduation, she matriculated at Westbrook College. Her college stay was brief when she decided to marry her high school sweetheart and join him in the Air Force. Lura has three daughters, Deborah Ann Tolman, Dianne Carolyn Covington and Darlene Florence Tolman and a granddaughter, Hannah Inez Covington. In 1966, she enrolled in Wayne Community College and received an associate degree. Lura was employed with the City of Goldsboro for 30 years and became a certified municipal clerk in 1986. She married Wyche H. Ray in 1970. Lura retired from the City as an administrative assistant to the Mayor and City Manager and to the City Clerk in 1997. She was a past member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and the N.C. Association of Municipal Clerks. Lura was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and was the secretary to the administrative board for more than 20 years. She attended J. Paul Edwards Sunday school class and served as secretary. Lura was a member of the Gardenettes Garden Club, Aldergate Circle, past member of the American Cancer Society and served as a volunteer on various community organizations. In her final years of life, Lura fought a courageous battle with cancer.
She is survived by her husband, Wyche H. Ray; her three daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah Ann Tolman of Portland, Oregon, Dianne Carolyn Tolman and her husband, Stephen Covington, and Darlene Tolman of Asheville; three stepsons, Stephen K. Ray and his wife, Becky, Jerald D. Ray and his wife, Carole, and W. Hillman Ray and his wife, Terry; one granddaughter and four step-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Willow Dale Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Homer Morris officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home and other times at her residence.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 204 E. Chestnut St., Goldsboro, N.C. 27530.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 27, 2007 1:48 PM