Joseph A. Ray, Jr.

RAY, JOSEPH A., JR., 89, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2021 with his family by his side.  He was a loving husband and devoted father and grandpa and a great friend to everyone who was blessed to know him.  Growing up in West Warwick and starting very young, he was an Altar boy and faithful member of St. Anthony's Church.  He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church and a member of their golf committee.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.  Following in his father's footsteps, Joe had a love of music and was an accomplished musician.  He played sax and piano and had his own orchestra.  He graduated from West Warwick High School in 1950 and joined the Navy.  He served and toured the world during the Korean War.  Returning home, he married his beautiful bride, Jeannie.  They settled in Coventry and raised their family.  You might say that Joe spent most of his life on a golf course; from starting out as a young caddy and turning into a very good golfer, to his life-long career as a golf course superintendent.  One of his many achievements was implementing the added holes at Quidnessett Country Club.  He was Golf Course Superintendent at Valley Country Club for many years.  Joe never really retired, continuing to work and help out at Cranston and Midville Country Clubs.  He rooted for his beloved New England sports teams, especially the Red Sox and Patriots.  Joe also loved to cook. He had many specialties that we are going to miss.  His favorite summer time hobby (next to golfing) was going into a low tide bay and digging for clams and quahogs, and making his chowder, stuffed quahogs and little necks casino.  Joe did live a full and happy life, being always the humble and Christian man that inspired and taught his children and grandchildren well. We will miss his beautiful smile, his stories of growing up on his parent's dairy farm, and his very funny sense of humor.  He was predeceased by his father Joseph Sr., mother Mabel (Mathias-Andrade) and brother Raymond. After 65 years of marriage, Joe leaves his wife Jean; his three children Jacqueline Kirchoff and her husband Alan, Christopher Ray and his wife Julie; and Mathew Ray and his wife Ann Marie; and four grandchildren Joseph Higginbotham and his wife Lauren, and Christopher (CJ) Ray, Jr., Robert (Robbie) Ray and Mary Ray.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 11:00 am in Sacred Heart Church, 820 Providence Street, West Warwick.  Interment with military honors will be private.  Visiting hours are respectively omitted.  In lieu of flowers, donations to Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick or to St. Anthony’s Knights of Columbus Council 181 in West Warwick would be appreciated.  Information and condolences please visit: www.PrataGallogly.com

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