Rev. Harold Dean Ray

The Reverend Harold Dean Ray, age 80, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on Thursday May 7, 2015. Harold was born in Jackson County, Tennessee and grew up in Old Hickory, Tennessee. He graduated from DuPont High School and Middle Tennessee State University. At age 19, while attending the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy, Harold felt led to become a minister. He earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Divinity and was ordained an Elder of the Holston United Methodist Conference on June 4, 1961. For fifty-six years he served pastorates in Tennessee and Holston Conferences. His assignments in Tennessee were: Dycus Circuit, Liberty-Clear Fork, and Pennington and in Holston: Telford Circuit, South Cleveland, Grace, Burlington, Harriman-Swan Pond, Norwood, Washington Pike, and Tyner. Harold’s ministry passion was pastoral care. Upon acceptance of his request to retire, his Bishop wrote, “Your conscientiousness and faithfulness in serving Christ and the Church are unparalleled.” Following retirement in 1998, he was visitation Minister at Burks UMC in Hixson for eleven years. Harold also served communities where he lived. He was a member of the Ruritan, Lion, and Kiwanis Clubs. He served the Cleveland City School Board of Education and was the founding president of the Cleveland Boy’s and Gril’s Club. He was a City Council member and Vice Mayor for the city of Harriman. He was on the Advisory Committee that recommended merger of the Knoxville and Knox County public schools. Harold is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Hilda Fay Huffines Ray of Knoxville, Tennessee; son and daughter-in-law, John Mark Ray and Katherine Hamilton Ray of Knoxville, Tennessee; mother-in-law, Sarah Hackett Huffines; brother and sister-in-law, Phillip Huffines and Myrna Petty Huffines of Carthage, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Jean Ray; and several nieces and nephews all of middle Tennessee. Harold was preceded in death by his son, David Phillip Ray (age 5); parents, Clyde Ray and Ethel Richardson Ray; sister, Hattie Ray Adams, brother, Bill Ray; and grandparents, Robert and Lassie Richardson, and Joe Milas and Lou Ella Ray. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm EDT until 7:00 pm EDT, Monday May 11, 2015, at Fountain City United Methodist Church. A funeral service will follow at 7:00 pm EDT with Rev. Nathan Malone, Dr. Randy Frye, and Rev. Amy Aycock officiating. Interment will be at 1:00 pm CDT, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Defeated Creek Memorial Garden in Carthage, Tennessee with Brother Jeff Burton officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to Fountain City United Methodist Church (212 Hotel Rd. Knoxville, TN 37918) or The Jordan Hackett Foundation (P.O. Box 45 Carthage, TN 37030). Harold will always be loved by his family and will remain in their hearts forever. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel of Knoxville, TN and Sanderson Funeral Home of Carthage, TN. Online obituary may be viewed and condolences extended at www.rosemortuary.com.

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Rev. Harold Dean Ray

November 16, 1934 - May 7, 2015