Roger D. Ray, 78, former Tecumseh and Kearney, Nebraska resident, passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Roger was born August 7, 1940 to Lee and Mary Ann (Ballard) Ray in Tecumseh, Nebraska.
Roger attended Tecumseh Senior High where he was a football letterman and FFA treasurer, graduating in 1958. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Education from Peru State College and later earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Kearney State College.
On December 23, 1966 he wed Fidelia (Hall) of Elk Creek, Nebraska and welcomed a daughter in 1971 and a son in 1975.
Roger was an educator and spent many years teaching geography and history. He started his teaching career at Platteview Junior/Senior High in Springfield, Nebraska and later moved to Kearney, Nebraska where he taught at Kearney Junior High (Horizons Middle School) for 35+ years.
Roger was an active member of the Many Rivers and Nebraska Appaloosa Horse Clubs. He enjoyed showing horses and watching his children compete in state, regional, national and World horse competitions.
Even after his retirement from teaching, he kept busy working for his son’s horse training facilities in Minnesota and Oklahoma, staying close to the horse business until his death.
In his golden years he shared a love of history with his oldest grandson, a love of football with his youngest grandson and a love of photography with his granddaughter.
Left to cherish the many memories are his wife, Fidelia, daughter Kelly Ray Langrehr and her husband Mark, son Jeff Ray, and grandchildren Austin Ray, Haylee and Aden Langrehr.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Erma, Gladys and Marjorie, brother Calvin and daughter-in-law Angela (Austin) Ray.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2021 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska. The service wias also live streamed on the Wherry Mortuary/Wherry Monument Facebook page for those unable to attend and a link is posted on the bottom of Roger's webpage.
Inurnment will be in the Vesta Cemetery, rural Tecumseh, Nebraska. There will be a luncheon following the graveside at the Baptist Activity Center in Tecumseh, across the street from the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.
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