Eldon Ray

Eldon Ray, 71, of Creston died Jan. 8, 2015, at Greater Regional Medical Center.

Celebration of life Mass will be 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The Rev. Ken Halbur will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. A Christian Wake and Rosary service was held 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com.

Eldon Eugene Ray Jr., son of Gladys Maxine (Jones) and Eldon Eugene Ray Sr., was born March 24, 1943, in Creston.

Eldon was educated in Creston Schools.

On July 8, 1961, Eldon married Judy Moore in Corning. They lived and worked in the Prescott and Lenox areas. Judy and Eldon later divorced.

Later, Eldon met Cynthia Rose Feldhacker, and they were married on Oct. 19, 1985, in Creston. They lived and worked in the Creston area.

Eldon worked for Wellman Dynamics, Crestland Co-op and a short time at Cardinal Glass. He was skilled with carpentry and construction. He was employed by GTE Plasticwork for many years. Eldon was more recently employed at Green Valley Chemical Plant, north of Creston.

Eldon was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston, and served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Eldon is survived by his daughters, Tammy (Ray) (husband Dan) Gabel of Topeka, Kan., Brenda (Ray) (husband Mark) Blazek of Winterset, Kristine (Ray) (husband Jon) Kautz of Creston and Kristal (Feldhacker) (husband Nick) Allen of Creston; brothers, Jim Ray and Richard Ray, both of Creston; sisters, Joann Medill of Eugene, Ore., Kay (husband Bernard) Johannes of Pocahontas and Pat (husband Denny) Marquardt of Milford, Ore.; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Ralph Feldhacker (Barb Sundly) of Hillsdale, Wis., Ken (wife Marg) Feldhacker of Creston, Stan (wife Ann) Feldhacker of Greenfield and Wayne (wife Alicia) Feldhacker of Creston; sisters-in-law, Jeanette Van Tassel of Sibley, Lucille Tuel of Schaller, Phyllis Lowe (Don Kracht) of Marion, Amy (husband Virgil) Heidebrink of Sun City, Ariz., Elaine Moon Hines of Chariton and Penne Feldhacker; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents; wife Cindy Ray in August 2014; son Eric Eugene Ray; daughter Melody Jean Ray; grandson Tim Gabel; brother Don Ray; nephews, Jay and Bernie Johannes and Gary Tuel; nieces, Jeanice Neal and Kathy Feldhacker; brothers-in-law, Melvin and Francis Feldhacker, Dick Van Tassel, Mike Moon and Randy Hines; and a sister-in-law Bette Feldhacker.