Robert E. Ray, Sr.

June 22, 1920 - April 14, 2012

ROBERT RAY NORWAY - Robert “Rugger” E. Ray, Sr., 91, died peacefully Saturday, April 14, 2012, in the company of his loving children at his home in Norway. Government records report his birth as having occurred sometime between the dates of June 20 and June 23, 1920 in Pikeville, Kentucky, the son of John R. Ray and Mary Catherine Connelly. Rugger moved to Norway in 1926 and graduated from Norway High School in 1938. Like many other young men seeking a way to help provide for their families during the difficult years of the Great Depression, he proudly joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked on various projects still in use today. Following his time in the CCCs, he worked as a powder monkey in the iron mines in Vulcan before he joined the US Army. He served in the 348th Engineer Combat Battalion in the Normandy Campaign, the Northern France Campaign and the Rhineland Campaign of the European Theatre in World War II, earning three Bronze Battle Stars, and he was wounded in action in Holland, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. He returned to Norway after the war where he met and fell in love with Betty Ann Caddy. They were married from 1947 until her death in 1965. He later met and fell in love with his second wife, Patricia Ann Mikolajczyk; they were married from 1968 until her death in 1993. Rugger had eight children, fifteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Over the years, he worked in construction, in the cattle industry, and as a foreman for a cedar-log home company from which he purchased the sawmill he operated well into his 80’s. He was lifetime member of the VFW and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wives, his daughter, Darlene, and his siblings, Patricia, Dorothy, Roy, Genevieve, and Francis. He is survived by his brother, Joseph, and sister, Irene; and his children, John, Robert Jr. (Cheryl), Richard, Jean, Cindy (Mike) Howe, Thomas, and Scott (Carmen); and his grandchildren, Jeremy, Francesco “Cheech,” Vincenso “Vinnie,” Matthew, Elizabeth, Melinda, Keri, Gwen, Betty Lou “Boo,” Bobbie Jo, Jacob, Brittany, Katie, Amanda, and Isaac; and his great-grandchildren, Teressa, Ashlee, Conner, Jamin, Janelle, Jalee, Katrina, Audrey, Gabriella, Devon, Desiree, Dominique, Khloe, and Kayden. He had many nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends who will be remembered by his children. The family would like to thank special caregivers, Dr. Toby Gendron, Joanie, Sheila, Chelsea, and Crystal, among many others. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to recognize Rugger’s two best friends, Sparky and Morty, and asks that donations be sent to Springlake Humane Society.