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R. P. Ray, Pioneer Citizen Passed away on Feb. 11th
Bertram and surrounding communities were made sad when they learned that R. P. Ray,
a pioneer citizen passed away at 5:25 o'clock last Sunday evening,
February 11th, 1945 at his home in Bertram. He had been ill for
about six weeks. All that medical skill and loving hands could
do, was done for him, but he gradually became worse.
Richard P. Ray was
born on June 8th, 1850 in Overton County, Tennessee. He joined
the Confederate Army when he was 13 years of age and served under the
late General Adam R. Johnson. He was united in marriage in 1866. Three daughters survive this union: Mrs. Mary Webb and Mrs. Will Turner of Bertram and Mrs. Hester Green of Dallas.
On July 26th 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Ann Sullivan.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray moved to Texas and settled in the Shady Grove
community near Bertram, in Burnet County on December 22nd, 1876.
To this union twelve children were born, eight sons and four
daughters. Those surviving him are Phillip Ray of Austin, Fred Ray of Bertram, Elbert Ray of Dallas, Mrs. Eugene Smith of Bertram, Mrs. Henry Kleen of Burnet and Mrs. Walter H. Buckner of Bertram. [written in margin of obit: "also: Mary Hester Leah from first marriage] Those preceding him in death were John Ray, Henry Ray, Al Ray and Mrs. Walter Stewart.
Two sons died in infancy. His wife died on December 18,
1919. He is also survived by a large number of grandchildren,
great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Mr. Ray bought a farm in the Shady Grove community in about 1876, where
he continued to reside for about 64 years. He moved to the town
of Bertram in 1940.
He was converted in 1881 and united with the Strickland Methodist
Church. He was a charter member of the Robert E. Lee Masonic
Lodge of Shady Grove. He was raised to the sublime degree of a
Master Mason in that Lodge in November, 1890. He served as
Secretary of the Robert E. Lee Lodge for some twenty years. He
was first elected to the office of County Commissioner of the Bertram
Precinct, No. 3, in 1888 and served in this capacity for more than
twenty years. Then later he served as Justice of the Peace of
Bertram Precinct, No 3, for about twenty years. He resigned as
Justice of the Peace about five years ago. Mr. Ray was one of the
best politicians that ever lived at Bertram, and was thorough in all of
his official work. by his warm and cheerful greeting and
friendliness, he won the friendship and admiration of a large host of
people wherever he went. Truly, his friends were legion.
"Uncle Dick" as he was affectionately called by both young and old, at
the time of his passing, was 94 years, 8 months and 3 days of age.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. George Brown,
pastor of the Bertram Baptist Church at 3:00 o'clock Monday afternoon,
February 12th, at the Bertram Lumber Company Funeral Chapel.
Interment was in the Bear Creek Cemetery. The Masons had charge
of the services at the Cemetery. The floral offering was
beautiful and was mute evidence of the high esteem in which he was held
by everyone.
Pall bearers were his grandsons: Ellis Ray, Lawrence Ray, David Ray, Weldon Buckner, Maurice Smith and Doss E. Smith.
Out of town people who were here Monday to attend the funeral of R. P. Ray were Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Ray and daughter, Doris of Dallas, Mr. and Mrs. Houston Ray, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ray of Salado, Mrs. C. E. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Ray, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ray, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Feild and H. F. Atkinson of Burnet; Phillip Ray, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Shelburn, Lee R. Barton, and Mrs. Marlin Tatum of Austin, Mr. and Mrs. H. I. Kleen of Burnet and perhaps others.
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