Obituary of William Ray

William Blue Ray, Jr., age 55, owner of Bill Ray's Sport City Marine, died at Hospice's Estelle House on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Billy was born January 17th, 1954 in Ocala, Florida. He attended Grace Episcopal Day School and graduated from Darlington Academy in 1972. Billy attended University of North Florida, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1978. Billy Ray was the owner of Sport City Marine, the business his father began in 1971. Sport City Marine often serves as an educational forum for individuals to take windsurfing and fishing classes and hosts clinics with guest speakers from fishing guides to professional outdoor writers. Billy truly enjoyed his work, once commenting that, "what we have is a grown up toy store, where we have an opportunity to make a living at making people happy. " Billy Ray was a member of the Church at the Springs, where he volunteered as a greeter and usher. Billy enjoyed coaching soccer, basketball, and volleyball and shared his love of sports with many children. Tennis was a passion that Billy shared with so many wonderful friends, providing him with many hours of enjoyment. Billy Ray is survived by his wife, Becky; his children Randall and Justa Thomas, Jacksonville, Fl., and McKenzie and Zachary Montgomery, Ocala, Fl.; his parents William and Miriam Ray; two sisters, Marguerite (Michael) Blocker and Miriam (Scott) Mitchum; and one brother, Eddie (Terry) Ray. He is further survived by nieces Miriam and Emily and nephews Bill, James, Adam, Abraham, Jeremiah, Wilson, Eddie, William, Sam and Colson. He is also survived by an incredible inner circle of friends who have supported and surrounded him with love and laughter during his lifetime; Brad Kidd, Duke Hagood, Tom Murvin, Sid Clevinger, Chip Young, Doug Weaver, Scott Mitchum, Mark Raney, and Robert Batsel. Celebration of Life services for Billy Ray will be held on Friday, June 26th, at 4:00 p.m. at Church at the Springs, 3233 S.E. Maricamp Rd., Ocala, FL. In lieu of flowers it is Billy Ray's expressed desire to have donations made in his name to Church at the Springs Ministries or Hospice of Marion County.