Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

John William Ray

June 4, 1926 - Nov. 14, 2007

 

South Bend Tribune 11/16/2007
GRANGER - John William Ray, 81, of Granger, IN, passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, Nov. 14th, in his residence. Mr. Ray was born on June 4, 1926, in Detroit, MI, to the late Marion and Stella (Parker) Ray. He graduated from John Adams High School, attended and played football at the University of Notre Dame and Olivet College, MI. He received a post-graduate master's degree in business from the University of Michigan. John served in the United States Army as a paratrooper during WWII, including two years in Japan. John had a long and distinguished career as a football coach. He coached at Sturgis High School, Three Rivers High School, and the University of Detroit. He was head football coach at John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the University of Notre Dame from 1963 to 1967, was head coach at the University of Kentucky, and was the defensive coordinator for the NFL's Buffalo Bills. After retiring from football he was an executive vice president with Ara Parseghian Enterprises of South Bend, IN.

 

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 57 years, Barbara A. Ray. He is survived by his second wife, Norah. He is also survived by his four children from his first marriage, Jeff Ray and wife, Cathy of Las Vegas, NV, Kathy Stscherban and her husband, Paul of Mishawaka, IN, Debbie Kane and her husband, Jim of Pittsburgh, PA, and Chris Ray and wife, Jean of Scottsdale, AZ. He has nine loving grandchildren, Matthew and Terrence Ray, Alex and John Stscherban, Allison and Patrick Kane, Taylor, Jordan and Emilia Ray. Also surviving are two stepchildren, Leslie A. McCurdy of South Bend, Nicholas Linarello and his wife, Tania of South Bend; and a step-granddaughter, Ella Teresa McCurdy. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert Ray.

 

A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17th, in St. Pius X Catholic Church at Fir Road and SR 23, Granger, IN, Rev William Schooler, pastor, officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the church prior to Mass, In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Olympics of St. Joseph County, IN.