Ray

Mary Monette Kenmore Ray went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Monette was born in Dimmitt, Texas on Dec. 3, 1936, to Faye and Ferron Kenmore. She was a 1955 graduate of Dimmitt High School. While in high school, she met the love of her life, George Ray. She attended West Texas College for one year and then married George on Sept. 1, 1956. Monette was a wonderful helpmate to George and ministered by his side for the 56 years he was in ministry. She played the piano, taught GAs, and could make a Sunday School lesson come alive with a flannel graph story. She was known for her hospitality and fun-loving spirit. Progressive dinners, deacon suppers, showers, wedding receptions, potluck lunches, youth choir trips, Wednesday night meals, and her famous Christmas Open House were some of her happiest times. She worked in VBS, WMU, and with the BSU. Monette led women’s Bible studies and worked on a variety of mission projects and retreats for women. Besides the work Monette did within the church, she worked as a secretary for the city of Abilene, taught piano lessons in Cresson and Gunnison, worked as a church secretary and bank teller in Justin, and as bookkeeper for the Lubbock Baptist Association. Monette was very creative and enjoyed tole painting. She was a consultant for Creative Memories, a scrapbook company, and touched countless lives outside of the church with her crops and classes, helping many people create scrapbooks of their lives.

Monette will be remembered as a dedicated wife, loving mother, loyal friend, and just a bit of a prankster. She was quick to offer a word of advice or encouragement. She enjoyed traveling and some of her favorite trips were to the Holy Lands, the Rose Parade, and an Alaskan Cruise.

She was a devoted Nana and traveled many miles to be at special events in the lives of her grandchildren. That she “loved them to the moon and back” was a favorite expression they shared.

Monette loved a good party and hosted great events for numerous church anniversaries, her mother and mother-in-law’s milestone birthdays, as well as reunions for family, cousins, and the Dimmitt Class of 1955.

Most recently, Monette lived in assisted living and continued to draw people to her with interesting life stories, encouraging advice, and the love of playing games. When recently asked how she wanted to be remembered she said “as someone who loved my family and my Lord and tried to live my life to honor Him”.

Monette is survived by her three children and their spouses, Mark and Becky Ray of Lubbock, Texas, Jana and Doug Gaston of Saint Jo, Texas, and Matt and Debbie Ray of Hobbs, New Mexico; and six grandchildren, Ashley Ray (David) of Temple, Texas, Logan Ray of Lubbock, Lauren Gaston of Canyon, Texas, Lane Gaston of Saint Jo, Cami Vento (Michael) of Land of Lakes, Florida, and Jordan Gilliland of Austin, Texas. Also surviving Monette are three great-grandsons, Michael Vento, Nathanial Vento and Noah Ray; her brother Hoyt Kenmore of Apache Junction, Arizona; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Monette was preceded in death by her husband George Ray; her parents Faye and Ferron Kenmore; her in-laws, George and Tera Ray; her brother, Herschel Kenmore; sisters-in-law Doris Kenmore, Alice Kenmore and Jean Ray; brother-in-law, Gilbert Ray; and nephew, Gilbert B. Ray.

The family and friends of Monette Ray celebrated her life of 84 years at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers with burial following in the Castro Memorial Gardens, Dimmitt. We invite you to visit www.memorialdesigners.net to view the service and to download her memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing. We also ask that you consider viewing her Life Tribute, a video of photographs set to her favorite music.