Frederick "Dan" Ray

Weaverville - Frederick Prince "Dan" Ray, 92, died Monday January 10, 2011 at the John F. Keever Solace Center. A native of Madison County, had lived most of his life in Buncombe County. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. In 1974 along with his good friend M. Graham Price they purchased Merchant Construction Co and formed Price-Ray Constructors. He was a member and Elder Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville. He was a son of the late Prince B. and Effie Shelton Ray and the husband of the late Meed Cutshall Ray. He was also preceded in death by sisters, Iris Hughey, Mary Bell, Helen Clark and Ruth Wilson and brother, Brooks Ray. Surviving are his sons, Frederick E. Ray and wife Jackie of Mars Hill and Gary Ray and wife Linda of Asheville; daughter, Vickie Reece and husband Wade of Waynesville; brother, John S. Ray and wife Lettie of Weaverville; grandchildren, Andrew Ray, Chris Carron, Penny Kilby and April Long; great grandchildren, Olivia Ray, Caleb and Emily Carron, Paxton, Spencer and Chandler Kilby and Kelsi, Eli and Zeke Long and his caregiver Emma English. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville with Revs. Skip Gillikin and Sam McGinn officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Ashelawn gardens of Memory. Memorials may be made to: Care Partners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville Building Fund, 30 North Alabama Ave, Weaverville, NC 28787.