Alice Jean Ray

Alice Jean Ray, age 88, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away at Davis Hospice Center after being lovingly cared for by staff and daughters, Lana and Tammie.

The youngest of nine children, Alice was born on July 29, 1934, in Croton, Iowa, to William McKinley McPherson and Bertha Raines McPherson. Her father passed away before she was born. Alice grew up in Fort Madison, Iowa, where she graduated from Fort Madison High School and held her first jobs. She married Frank Ray on June 7, 1953, in Fort Madison when she was 18 years old. During their marriage, they lived in a number of places, including Fort Madison, Iowa, Kansas City, Missouri, St. Charles, Missouri, and Dallas (Irving), TX. They divorced in 1984, but remained good friends the rest of their lives.

Alice led a full and rewarding life. She worked as a secretary at ACF in St. Charles, Missouri. While in St. Charles, she attended night classes at Lindenwood College. Alice and her husband, Frank, moved to Dallas (Irving), Texas, where she worked as a legal secretary for Johnson & Gibbs. Alice retired and moved to Aurora, Colorado, in September 1999 to be near her daughters. While in Aurora, she worked part-time at a day care to spend time with her toddler grandson, Devin Tompkins. Later, she worked a number of years as church secretary for the Franktown Seventh-day Adventist Church. Alice was a faithful member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church wherever she lived. She held many church offices such as Church Treasurer, Sabbath School Superintendent, and Sabbath School teacher. Alice and sister, Vera Mae, loved to sing together whenever they had a chance throughout their lives. Alice’s interests centered around church, friends, and family. Alice enjoyed many close friends. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She was very compassionate, understanding, generous, and forgiving. Alice loved little children. Next to God, family was all-important to her.

Alice is survived by her daughters, Lana Anderson (John Anderson) of Cheyenne, WY, and Tammie Ray of Aurora, CO; grandchildren Ladeana Ramirez of Cheyenne, WY, Micah Long of Parrish, FL, and Devin Tompkins of Aurora, CO; great-grandchildren Laila Ramirez of Cheyenne, WY, Madelynn Long of Parrish, FL, and Julianna Long of Parrish, FL. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law, Betty McPherson and Joan McPherson.

Alice was preceded in death by her father, William McKinley McPherson in 1933, her mother, Bertha Esther Raines McPherson in 1988; eight siblings, Juanita (Evans) Sportsman, Elbertine (Carl) Kleber, Hartley McPherson, Darell (Valera) McPherson, Edward McPherson, Betty (Cecil) Hayes, Vera Mae (Arthur) Schleif, Ardith (Niki) McPherson; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at Croton Cemetery in Croton, Iowa, at 10:30am on Sunday, July 16, 2023, officiated by Pastor Brad Schleif, Alice’s nephew. A picnic will be held after the services in the Old School House & Shelter down the hill from the cemetery in Croton Civil War Memorial Park.

To send the family condolences please visit www.wrcfuneral.com