Beverley A. Ray

Beverley A. Ray, born into this life April 24, 1934, in Detroit and entering eternal life September 23, 2023, is remembered here as a kind, generous and faithful mother, wife, grandmother and friend. A graduate of St. Philip Neri High School, Detroit, Bev started her career as a hardworking, single mother to Mark (Pearl) and Dwayne (Linda) Messina. Bev joined Fred Ray in marriage in the mid-60s and became stepmother to Brad Ray and Caren (Mike) Leslie. Bev and Fred brought another son, Christopher into the fold on Labor Day, 1971. Bev is grandmother to Aaron Wright and Elainna (Alan) Schlutow, Tara (Connor) Harvey, Summer (Ryan) Holder, Lauren Messina, Samantha, Sean and Andi Leslie, Anna Monohan and Brady Cole. She was also great grandmother to Lily, Oliver and Kaedan. Throughout her career as an administrative assistant at Doverspike Industrial Machine and as a pharmaceutical sales representative, Bev remained a devout Detroit sports fan, holding her own sinking baskets from the free-throw line on her home driveway court and consistently hitting the pocket from the left side of a bowling lane. As a home chef, Bev's cooking is second to none as evidenced by her over-the-top spaghetti and meatballs with special sauce to her always perfect pie crusts and desserts. Bev knew how to bait a fishing line on Lake St. Clair and was a tough pinochle and cribbage player. She knew when to hold them and knew when to fold them at the poker table and was as comfortable placing bets at Hazel Park and Windsor Raceway as she was at breaking even on her Las Vegas adventures with her friends and family. Bev loved camping Up North and loved traveling when she could. Bev managed to visit a number of Army posts her son Mark was stationed at, cruised Alaskan waters and was rarely found home when the opportunity to get out and about presented itself. Bev found time to rescue greyhound dogs from shelters, loved tending to her garden and rose bushes and as a frugal and practical Scotswoman, she never complained through difficult situations. In fact, Bev could be as tough as they come in times of adversity. Bev fought off numerous serious medical issues as her career wound down and somehow managed to come out of it all smiling and determined to press on. Through the tough times and good times, Bev credited her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for her strength and perseverance. Bev refused to engage negative thinking, instead choosing to find reasons to believe the best in herself, in her family and in her friends in and outside the St. Lawrence Catholic community and in her Warren and Shelby Township neighborhoods. In remembrance of the time we were fortunate enough to have spent with Bev, in lieu of flowers, our family asks you perform an act of kindness for others around you this week. Beverly's family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Road (3 blocks East of Van Dyke), Utica. A funeral mass will be held for Bev on Thursday, September 28 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 44633 Utica Road, Utica, instate beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of her mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Please leave a memory or tribute for Bev's family at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com

Beverley A. Ray

April 24, 1937 - September 23, 2023