Jacob Ray

JACOB B. RAY Jacob Benjamin ”Jake” Ray, age 76, passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 in ahospital in Idaho. His passage was a peaceful one with loving family members and hisBishop, Beau Ward, by his side. Jake, the son of Woodrow and Violee Defibaugh Raywas born on August 4, 1943 near Clover Lick, WV. Jake spent the last 38 years with the love of his life, his wife, Dianna Tawney Ray.Together they loved and raised; Lena Marie, Jacob Wesley and wife, Krystal, Molly EllenRay, Jacob B. Ray Jr. and wife, Yvonne, Donald Ray Shurtz and Christine, Danielle NicoleAkers and Autumn Tawney. Grandchildren: Kylee, Gerald, William, Charlie, Daun Shurtz,Kayla Ray, Jacob B. Ray III, Alex, Kara, Dustin, Austin, Kaylynn and Preston. GreatGrandchildren are: Willow, Severn, Noah and Tashina. Jake never stayed in one place very long, he traveled around with his family from WV,NC and Idaho. He finally settled down with his family in Hansen, Idaho. Jake worked atvarious jobs including; Vepco Dam in VA, Hanover Shoe Factory, Snowshoe Ski Resortand retired last year after 20 years with Amalgamated Sugar Factory, a beet refiningcompany. A lover of life and family, Jake remained true to his faith in the Mormon Church. As aHigh Priest in the church, he baptized a couple of family members. He spent a lot oftime talking about family roots and loved to tease little children. He loved countrymusic and loved to dance. He and his sister, Helen, danced one night to a live bandwhere the tune ran on and on and on, neither one of them wanting to be the first toquit until the music stopped. They were both exhausted and didn’t feel good the nextday – they finally admitted to each other that they were still tired and vowed to neverdo that again. A storyteller, Jake self published a book titled Logging Boots, telling stories of the boots,a hoop snake and Big Run. Jake’s Big Run story was told by him in the Long Lies categoryduring a Liars Contest in which he won second place. He was a champion liar; placingfirst or second every year that he entered. In 2016, he also wrote a story included inCoal Miners and Mountaineers, tales from the Good Old Days in Central West Virginia.Jake played Basketball in Grade School and became one of their star players. Afterschool days, he joined in with different groups of friends and co-workers to playBaseball in both West Virginia and Idaho. Jake was also famous for his arm wrestling.He mastered the art and taught a couple of younger men to carry on; one being hisnephew, Jamie Gibson, who has never, so far, lost a contest. When a family member had a health issue, Jake was the one who told them which spoton their foot to massage. He studied Reflexology and was a firm believer in the benefitsof a good foot rub. It was common place during a family visit to see Jake sitting with asister’s foot on his lap. He would massage various spots while holding a conversation.He was very interested in handwriting analysis. Jake would study the handwriting onany written correspondence he received to make note of the person’s state of mindwhile writing. He also studied the Chinese Zodiac Signs and loved to compare thevarious traits of each sign and their compatibility with others. Preceding him in death are his parents and a son, George Lucas Ray (stillborn). Alsopreceding him are six siblings; a sister, Mary Ellen Ray Holloway passed in April 2019,two brothers, Ernest Clarence Ray and Delbert Calvin Ray, did not survive their infancyand three stillborns. In addition to his wife and children, Surviving are thirteen siblings: Ten sisters; Helen andhusband, Donald Keegan, of Baltimore, MD, Margaret Corbett, Darlene Cassell, SallyGibson, Ernestine Hannah, Barbara Mock and companion, Jim Keatley, of Marlinton, WVarea, Della Ray and companion, Joey Judy of Bartow, WV, Frances and husband PeteTawney of Buckeye, WV, Virginia and husband Calvin Wilcox of Twin Falls, ID and NellieRay also of Twin Falls, ID., Three brothers; Ronald Ray and wife Betty of Twin Falls, ID,Charles Ray of Marlinton, WV and Johnny Ray and wife Cindy of Warm Springs, VA. , oneaunt, Oleta Scruggs of Roanoke, VA, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home in Twin Falls, Idaho is handling the arrangements fora viewing on Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 5 p.m. and a funeral service on Wednesday, Sept.11th at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Hazelton Cemetery in Hazelton, Idaho.