Diane Wilson Ray

Shirley “Diane” Wilson Ray entered the arms of her Savior on July 3, 2024. She was born in Mobile, Alabama on May 30, 1942 and grew up in Baton Rouge. She married her husband on December 2, 1961, and together they raised their two children, Randy and Renae. She spent many years doing secretarial work which she absolutely loved. She was proficient in shorthand writing, bookkeeping, and typing. She retired from the Troy H. Middleton Library at Louisiana State University and always continued to practice her skills. Another trade she continued to use even in the last few months of her life was being a beautician. She loved cutting and styling hair, and even convinced her husband to build a salon onto their house! Diane loved “pretty things” as she called them-dresses, jewelry, flowers, decorations and general what-knots. She loved to watch movies, read books, cook, and spend time with family and friends. 

Her husband called her “Honey” and, of course, her children called her “Mom”. To some she was “Aunt Dee Dee,” and many called her Friend. She was “Maw-Maw” to her grandkids and even to some who simply loved her. Regardless of what you called her, there are three words that clearly describe her: overcomer, hard-worker, and Believer.

An overcomer. She had many obstacles to overcome which started with a difficult upbringing and then being diagnosed as profoundly deaf at the age of five. She wore hearing aids, then cochlear implants, and attended Louisiana School for the Deaf in order to learn sign language. She was a caregiver to her very ill daughter, her father-in-law, and her mother even to the point of moving them into her home at one time or another. 

A hard worker. Diane hated being lazy. She rose early and went to bed late, and no job was too difficult for her. She worked full-time while raising her children, kept a clean house, and was very involved in church activities. You could often find her in a straw hat and work gloves while she did yard work, mowed the lawn, pruned flower beds, and tended the garden-even her mother’s! 

Believer. Diane believed with all her heart that Jesus loved her and had given His life for her. She loved to study her Bible and would talk about it with anyone, especially her pastor/son. She would study and even share her notes with him in case he wanted to use them in his sermon prep. She loved Jesus and wanted to make sure that everyone she encountered had a chance to know Him too-including sharing Jesus with the medical staff in her final year of life after her terminal cancer diagnosis. Her granddaughter recalls hearing the emergency room doctor say, “There is a large tumor in your abdomen and we’re referring you to an Oncologist”. She paused for a moment and then looked at the doctor and said “Well, this was not the news we expected to hear today, but if this is how the Lord decides to take me home, I’m ready. Now, Doc, let’s talk about you and what would happen to you if you received this diagnosis”. 

We’ll remember her witty personality and her impatient spirit too. We’ll remember how she loved to laugh and how she was unable to pass up a bargain. She was more hard headed than a brick wall but had the biggest servant’s heart of them all. She will be remembered for many things, but the thing we are most thankful for is her dedication to Jesus. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rodney Ross Ray; parents, Elery Cubit Wilson and Annie Ruth Blackwell Wilson Fryer; sister, Judy Wilson Scallan; and granddaughter, Crystal Briggs.

Shirley is survived by her son & daughter-in-law, Randy and Lori Rogers Ray; daughter & son-in-law, Renae Ray and Scott Briggs; grandchildren, Stacie, Zachary, and Joshua Ray; niece, Glenda Scallan Collins; great niece, Amanda Karg and her husband, Robert; great nephew, Wesley Collins; and great great nieces, Nellie Karg and Emmi Lu Karg.

Family and friends will be received at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, 2000 N. Morrison Blvd, Hammond, Louisiana 70401 on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. 

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 am.

Interment will follow at Loranger Community Cemetery in Loranger, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family would love for donations to made in Diane’s honor to her church’s local mission fund, “Diane Ray Memorial - local missions” at  https://theriverfellowship.net/online-giving/