HAROLD "Santa Claus" ANDREW RAY

HAROLD ANDREW "Santa Claus" RAY, a resident of Marion, Arkansas and United States Veteran with family members in Fayette County died Tuesday morning, March 9, 2010 at his residence. He was 70 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Funeral Services with Military Honors were conducted for Mr. Ray at 2 P.M. Friday, March 12th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Loyd Shelton, Baptist Minister of Rossville, officiating. Interment followed in the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Germantown. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Mr. Ray was born in the Stanton Community of Haywood County on November 5, 1939. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Ray and Willie Mae Alberson Ray.

He was educated in the Bartlett, Tennessee Public School System and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War Period.

Mr. Ray worked as a Wide Load Vehicle Escort Operator for much of his life and traveled throughout the United States during his employment.

He was of the Baptist faith and a Mason. He resided in Houston, Texas for a number of years before moving to Marion, Arkansas eighteen years ago.

Mr. Ray's interests included hunting and nature. He was an avid worldwide traveler and will be remembered by many for his CB handle, "Santa Claus".

Mr. Ray is survived by his daughter, Sheila Acroyd of Somerville; a sister, Velma Anderson of Memphis; two grandchildren, Stephanie Marie Yancey and Joshua Matthew Acroyd; two great-grandchildren, Tyler Ray Yancey and Krya Nicole Yancey and a large number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mavis Hanks.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Memphis Veterans Administration Medical Center, 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104; Phone: 1-800-636-8262.