Robert Stuart Ray

Robert Stuart Ray, 85, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2023 at Sage Oak Assisted Living Facility. He was born on November 16, 1937, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Charles Fletcher and Bernadine Gervais Ray.

Bobby Ray as he was known was a “Jack of all Trades, Master of None.” He loved gardening and produced bumper crops year after year. He was quite a carpenter. If a piece of furniture was needed, he built it. His hobby became a business, Bob’s Frame Barn, where he created custom frames mostly framing Louisiana wildlife. He was excellent at picking just the right matting to showcase the print. He could fix anything, and was a mechanic who, back in the day, could repair his own vehicles. He loved to read. He was always learning. He kept a book of inspirational quotes at hand.

At an early age, his dad taught him how to hunt. He hunted all things wild, but duck hunting in the marshes of South Louisiana was his favorite. In his earlier life, he was a coon hunter. He trained his dogs for the hunt and entered field trials where he won numerous awards.

He loved spending time with his grandkids. When the grandkids came along, fishing became more common than hunting passing along another family tradition.

Evening was his time of day. After getting an early start, he’d complete his day and relax sitting on the swing with a beer in his hand watching the birds with his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Sandra, by his side.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Sandra Daigle Ray; his son, Robert Jude Ray (Candice); his grandchildren, Dylan, Ryan, and Katie; his sister, Cheree Ray Burnette (Doug); his niece, Erin Fontenot (Allen); his nephew Ross Caldwell (Heather).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Fletcher Ray and Bernadine Gervais Ray; his sister, Pamela Ray Picard; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sheila and Winston Caldwell; his niece, Dana Caldwell.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Monday, October 16, 2023 in St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, located at 5495 Elliott Rd., Lake Charles, LA. Burial will follow in Big Woods Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be at the church on Monday morning from 9:00 AM until the start of the funeral Mass, with a rosary being recited at 10:00 AM.

The family would like to give special thanks to his loving caretakers for the last 10 months who became family; Santrella, Marva, Brenda, and Davlynn. In addition, the family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice, especially Kerri LaBauve, and Sage Oak Assisted Living for their compassionate care in the last days of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited—Sulphur Chapter or St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, A/C Replacement Fund.