Helen Ray

Helen Virginia Turley Ray, age 86, born on January 19, 1933, passed on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, in Diamondhead, Mississippi, surrounded by her family in her home. She was a native of Emory, Texas, and lived in Diamondhead for the past three years. Her life was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32 – “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Helen was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She treasured her children and embraced every moment with them, often going on cruises with her daughters. She especially loved her role as Mema to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh and she made friends everywhere she went.

Helen was an herbologist, iridologist, and enjoyed instructing and practicing metaphysical light training. Her hobbies include being a colorist, artist, jewelry maker, stain-glass creation master, and reading. Known for her charm, intelligence, and her wit, her smile was infectious that could light up a room. Helen often advised her children and grandchildren through the use of quotes. The family said, Helen’s most famous quote was, “Would you rather be right, or would you rather be happy because you can never be both? Let that guide your decisions.” Her words of encouragement, wisdom, and sometimes comfort, kept us in line, taught us the “school of hard knocks” and gave us something to pass down to our children.

Helen will be sorely missed and is preceded in death by her husband, William W. Ray; parents, Henry Turley and Virginia Ray Turley; son, Dennis W. Martin; daughter, Livia Lynn Martin; and sister, Joanne Coker Day. She leaves behind three daughters, Janis Caylen Ray of Dallas, TX, Robby Cook Stroud of Diamondhead, MS, Dr. Melissa Carol Caudle married to Gary Michael Caudle of Kenner, LA; one brother, Tom Turley; two sisters, Martha Knight and Judy Sterling; Christine Martin, her daughter-in-law who she also thought of as one of her own; nine grandchildren, Shannon Ray Croft, Cristi Caylen Ray, Erin Natasha Wright, Kelly Rae Caudle, Jamie Alyson Dwyer, James Loy Cook II, Dylan Ray Stroud, Taylor Jonathan Stroud, Noah Dreifus, and thirteen great-grandchildren, Joshua Scott, Nicholas Scott, Ashlyn Bolin, Stamatis Gamvrogianis[MC1] , Elias Gamvrogianis, Jaden Cheatum, Roger Miguel Molina III, Blythe Helen Cheatum, Jon Axle Dwyer, Aryc Lucian Dwyer, James Loy Cook III, Harmony Rae Dreifus, and Haxson Dreifus. All of these, she loved deeply.

The family would like to thank special caretaker, Morgan Kearley, for being so kind and loving to their mother through her transition.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions to MD Anderson Cancer Center (Lung Cancer Fund) at gifts.mdanderson.org in the name of Helen Virginia Ray.

Services were held on Saturday, January 11, 2020, for the immediate family. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Pass Christian, MS served the family. An online obituary is posted on www.riemannfamily.com.

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