Tessie A. (Reed) Ray, age 100, Cassville, Missouri

Tessie A. (Reed) Ray of Cato, Missouri passed peacefully from her home into her eternal home on June 24, 2023 at the age of 100.  She was born January 29, 1923, to George Reed and Elizabeth (Turner) Reed in Thornfield, Missouri. 

Her family later moved to Cassville where she attended school and then met the love of her life, Lavern J. Ray, at an Old Settlers Reunion event.  They were united in marriage May 24, 1941, and resided in the Shell Knob/Cato area all of their married life. They attended the Fairview Church in Shell Knob.  

Tessie was blessed with ten children. Two sons have preceded her in death, James Leon Ray and Bobby Wayne Ray. She is survived by eight children; Ronnie Ray, Luther Ray and his wife Rowena, Mike Ray and his wife Terry, Norma Gibson, Linda Welch, Joyce Bacon and her husband Charles, Mary Harris and her husband Melvin and Pat Furry.  

She is also survived by one brother, Charles Reed and his wife Karen; one daughter-in-law, Freda Ray, surviving widow of Leon Ray; twenty grandchildren; thirty-seven great grandchildren and twenty-seven great-great grandchildren. 

She was also preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers; five sisters; three grandchildren; two great grandchildren; two sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law. 

Tessie enjoyed the hobby of quilt making.  She first made quilts for the necessity of keeping her family warm, but it later became a very enjoyable hobby.  Her life was devoted to caring for her family as a homemaker and only worked outside the home for a short time in a tomato canning factory near Jenkins, in area strawberry sheds of the 1950's and later at an area Head Start as a cook.  She worked closely with her husband maintaining the farm which they both dearly loved.  She was a vital part of all aspects of the farm. Later in life, reading and watching the Doc Martin tv series and Judge Judy were her favorite pastimes.  

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, June 29, 2023 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Pastor Philip Welch, Tessie’s grandson, and Pastor Terry Bailie will conduct the services.  Burial will be at Clio Cemetery in Jenkins, Missouri. 

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.   

Contributions may be made to Clio Cemetery in memory of Tessie.

Visit www.fohnfuneralhome.com for online obituaries, guestbook and private condolences

FOHN FUNERAL HOME

Cassville, Missouri

417-847-2141