Bruce Wayne Ray

Bruce W. Ray, age 75 of Viola, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the Bland Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care after his 20 year battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born on April 21, 1941 in Flint, Michigan to Vern and Ruby (Painter) Ray. He married the love of his life, Norma Pierce on November 25, 1961 and later moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin where they raised their five children. Bruce worked at the American Brass as a mill roller for 40 years eventually retiring in 1999. In 2009, Bruce and Norma moved to Viola to be close to family as his parkinsons began to progress more rapidly. Bruce loved being outdoors and was always working in the flower beds or building things. His greatest joy was spending time with both his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Norma Ray; sons Jeffrey Ray and Michael Ray (Tina Barnett) of Wisconsin; daughters Diana (Keith) Solum of Wisconsin and Janet (Robert) Hammond of Ohio; daughter-in-law Jaimee Ray of Illinois; five grandchildren Amanda and Justin Slaney, Deanna Sitting, Justine Drengler and Andrea Hammond; four great-granchildren Meiah, Areyanah, Evalena and Ayden; two special young men Tim and Troy Slaney and his siblings LeRoy, Verlin and Jerry Ray, Shirley Comstock, Elaine Lee and Barbara Wilson all of Flint, MI. Bruce is preceded in death by a son Douglas, parents Vern and Ruby and eight siblings- Virginia, Violet, Caroline, Donna, Yvonne, Vern Jr, LJ and Robert. A celebration of life ceremony for Bruce will be held in the Spring of 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bland Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care or the Parkinson's Foundation in Bruce's name. The family is being served by the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Viola.