Gene Autry Ray, 77, of Pleasant Township, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 1:50 a.m., Saturday, with his family by his side at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert. Gene had been battling an extended illness. He was born on March 13, 1940, in Hardy, Kentucky, the son of the late Enos and Elmay (Maynard) Ray. On January 29, 1960 in Columbus, Ohio, he married the former Brenda J. Johnson who survives. Other family members include his son, Paul E. (Debra) Ray of Van Wert; three grandchildren Danielle (Nate) Myers, Taylor (Levi) Orsbon, and Mackenzie Russell Ray; great grandchildren, Lincoln and Aniston Myers and Baby Orsbon expected in the fall; two brothers, Virgil (Barbara) Ray of Goodlettsville, TN and Harles (Janice) Ray of Hardy, KY; a sister, Dottie (Bob) Bolton of Van Wert; sisters-in-law Hilo Ray, Patty (Tommy) Dotson of Palm Coast, FL,and Donna (Tony) Miller of Wise, VA; a brother-in-law, Jeff (Sandy) Johnson of Roanoke, VA; and many nieces and nephews Besides his parents, Gene was preceded in death by a son, Douglas L. Ray in 1984; two brothers, Ervin and Ronnie Ray; his father and mother-in-law, Clifford and Maxine Johnson; and brother-in-law, Glenn Terry Johnson He was a member of Calvary Evangelical Church and the Builders Sunday School Class. He retired from Aeroquip Corp. (Eaton) in 2000, then owned and operated Ray of Light Lamp Shop on Lincoln Highway which allowed his artistic abilities to come to life. Gene was an avid outdoorsman and greatly enjoyed many hunting trips with his son. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at Calvary Evangelical Church with Pastor W. Clark Williman officiating. Interment will follow at Van Wert Woodland Cemetery. Calling hours are 3 - 7 p.m., Tuesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the Church. Preferred memorials are to the Gideons International or Calvary Missions. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded at cowanfuneralhome.com.