Ray Feldes Henrich

Ray Montgomery Feldes Henrich passed away peacefully on Monday, July 30, 2018 in the comfort of her home with her husband and son by her side. She fought a courageous battle for two years with lung and bone cancer, often in severe pain.

Mrs. Henrich was born on January 19, 1946 to Vernon and Rae Montgomery in Lake Charles. Her mother passed away when Ray was only two years old. Her father and older brother, Vernon and Ray moved in with her grandmother Montgomery who helped in rearing the children. Her father passed away when she was sixteen. Mrs. Henrich was an honor student graduating from Lake Charles High School in 1964. She earned a Bachelor in English from Louisiana State University in only three years. While teaching she continued her studies at McNeese State University, where she earned both her Masters and Specialist degree in Counseling and Guidance. She taught English at Sam Houston High School and LaGrange Middle School and in 1972 became a Guidance Counselor at Barbe High School where she remained and retired thirty-two years later. She had a positive influence on thousands of young people as well as faculty members.

Mrs. Henrich had severe COPD, was on oxygen and in a wheel chair when she and her husband Denton moved to St. Louis, MO in May of 2007 for a lung transplant at Barnes Jewish Hospital. She waited eight months in St. Louis and on January 9, 2008 was given a second chance at life with a new lung. The transplant was successful and God granted her ten more years of life.

In 2017, Mrs. Henrich was diagnosed with cancer in the non-transplanted lung and began treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. The following year the cancer spread to her hip, sending her back to MD Anderson for treatment. The bone cancer caused her constant and intense pain. Mrs. Henrich rested peacefully at home with pain management in the last days of her journey.

Ray loved her children, grandchildren, stepchildren and step grandchildren to the Ñth degree. Nothing gave her more pleasure than spending time with them. She loved to duck hunt, fish, and play cards with her friends. She enjoyed going to church every Sunday and even in her immense pain had her quiet prayer each morning.

Ray is preceded in death by her parents, brother, and her daughter, Ashley Feldes.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 22 years, Denton Henrich; son, Brett Feldes and wife Stacy, grandchildren, Aubrey and Camden of Lake Charles; stepchildren, Derek Henrich and wife Bridget of Welch, Matthew Henrich and wife Cassie of Sunset and Chris Henrich and wife Wendy of Houston, TX and seven step-grandchildren, Dylan, Sam, Sillas, Magnolia, Gaston, Ulysses and Denton. She will be remembered fondly by a great number of friends, especially by those who knew her by “Ray-Ray” and those that grew up calling her Aunt Ray.

Pallbearers will be Garland “Buddy” Hamic, Dr. Gary Kohler, John Duhon, Mike Sarver, Jack Gray, Denny Dennison, Jace Johnson and Samuel J. DiGiglia.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Gary Kohler and his nurse Peggy Ward who have gone extraordinary lengths in taking excellent care of Ray.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to the Building Fund for First Baptist Church of Moss Bluff, 276 Old Highway 171, and Lake Charles, LA 70611 or to Second Wind St. Louis Lung Transplant Association, 211 Truman St. Bethalto, IL 62010 or a charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Friday, August 3, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Moss Bluff. Dr. Steve Bennett will officiate with Rev. Jack Tillery. Interment will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation Thursday will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the funeral home. Visitation Friday from 9:00 AM until the time of service in church.