Beverly Neil Ray

Beverly Neil (“Bev”) Ray, of Katy, Texas, passed away on April 26, 2017, at the age of 92. He was born on August 9, 1924, in Bunch, Oklahoma, to Arch and Bertha Ray, the oldest of four children. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II, becoming a radar technician based on the island of Guam, where he supported B-29 bombers flying missions against Japan. After the war, he became a field engineer (and later a manager) for United Geophysical Company, and he worked for that company and its successors until his retirement in 1986. Because of the nature of his job, he travelled extensively both in the US and internationally, and he and his family lived for an extended period in Venezuela and Brazil. In 1947, he married Helen Martha Matlock, of Cushing, Oklahoma, and they enjoyed almost 70 years of life together. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen, by their two sons, Michael and Phillip, and by three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his youngest sister, Janice Lockard, and by many nieces and nephews. His other siblings, Irene Gangluff and Arch Ray, Jr., predeceased him. After retiring, Bev was active for many years in the New Hope Presbyterian Church of Katy, and he also served as a commissioner of the West I-10 Volunteer Fire Department and worked in elections for Harris County and the Katy ISD. A memorial service will be held at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 1350 North Mason Road, Katy, Texas 77449, on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 10 am.