Racine – Charles C. Ray Jr., 71, passed away at Froedtert Hospital on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. He was born in Crossville, Tennessee on January 14, 1943, son of the late Charles Ray and Sylvia (nee: England; Wood) Jackson. Charles never met his father, a U.S. soldier KIA in 1943. Charles was deeply treasured by his mother who prayed for him every day of her life.

His ancestry is a long line of lawyers and judges and he was very proud to legally represent himself, pro se, in court when the need arose; resulting in changes to Wisconsin case law.

Charles had "the gift of gab" and was a relentless salesman who had worked for Boucher in Racine.  He enjoyed fishing, watching western movies, listening to Elvis Presley music, and traveling with his "babe," Lil, who "lit up his life."

Charles died when he rushed into a burning pet store to save all of the animals.      …Or maybe not.  We all know how he liked to tell stories.  As it turns out, he received an offer he couldn't refuse: to leave his used and broken body for an assignment with 110% job security in a wonderful place, reunited with loved ones, dancing on streets of gold.

Charles and his stories will be deeply missed by his wife, Lillian Ray; his children, Charles C. Ray III, Keith (April) Ray, Tina (& Steve) Persels, Donald Ray, Pamela (& Lawrence) Wallace, Deanna (& Philip) Alexander, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is further survived by his sisters, Barbara Rash, and Georgia (& David) Wasmundt, sister-in-law Dorothy Wood, and his former spouse, Willamina "Billie" Sweeney.  He was also preceded in death by his stepfathers Tom Wood, Sr. and Coy Jackson, and his brother, Tom Wood Jr.

Visitation will be in the Funeral Home on Sunday, November 2, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm, and on Monday, November 3, 2014 beginning at 10:00am.  Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11:00a.m. on Monday, followed by Interment at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.  Memorials to the family have been kindly suggested.