Submitted by: Dan Rich
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.