He was the best of men and fathers. I have no doubt of his destination. He is now with the angels and saints worshiping God in heaven. Being a Christian was his whole life. One cannot discuss my father without recalling that Jesus Christ was the heart of his life.

When Ford Motor Company wanted to promote him he would ask, "Would it mean working more hours and Saturdays?" They said, "Yes." He then responded every time, "I am sorry I have to decline. I have three boys at home and they need me more than Ford Motor Company does."

Saturdays were always for us boys. Dad's hobby and sport was the family. He worked, took us to church and the rest of his time was with the family.

He bought us a pony, built a 15 foot tall swing set and tree fort, put up a pool, built a little barn, worked in our garden, watched the birds, took us for endless walks in the woods and more than anything else he read us books. Every evening he read us books and told us stories.

Pneumonia hit him two weeks ago today and antibiotics couldn't whip it. He was too weak. We had three priests come in to pray for him and anoint him. I prayed along with them and said, "Lord, if he is deficient in anything, give it to him now through the hands and words of your priests and through his faith and the Catholic faith of his family."

 

We have no doubts about his love for Jesus and in the end, when he could only whisper, he pointed up and struggling to speak whispered, "I believe now more than ever." 

Charles Robert Ray died  peacefully August 13th at 4:20 AM in his own bed with my daughter Emily holding his hand, singing to him about Jesus and praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  

Janet and I were in an airplane heading home and arrived shortly after he died. But we had a blessed two hours with my mom and my kids and my siblings. We hugged and kissed him as his body grew stiff and cold. And then they zipped him into the vinyl bag and took him away.

He taught me how to live, and now - how to die. He will be missed. Thanks Dad for being a real father, for loving us, working hard without ever complaining, caring for us, being an example and leading us to Christ. He was adored by his grandkids and great grandkids. I am who I am today because of my dad and mom.

In the dedication to my first book I wrote, "To my parents, Charles and Fran Ray, who raised me in a godly Evangelical home, who taught me to love the Lord, who spent untold hours praying for me, and who gave me a passion for truth and learning (see 2 Timothy 3:15)."

Reflecting back on the funeral my son Jesse said the whole event reminded him very much of the birth of one of his children. "The long hours at the hospital, the labor experienced during the dying process, and the gathering of family and friends." Indeed it is a blessing when the passing from this life into the next is filled with peace, warm embraces, and joyful expectation of heaven.

I would like to thank all of you who prayed, sent consolation emails and cards, and offered Masses. These difficult days were filled with so much Grace, and I attribute this to the tremendous amount of prayers sent up for my family.

Many said that my dad's funeral was the most joyful, and even "Fun" funeral they had ever attended. One of the highlights was the candy in his jacket pockets. This was his trademark for decades. He would give it generously to everyone who asked. Kids at church would just walk up and reach in his suit coat pocket with smiles on their faces. His pastor said one of their biggest challenges was how to clean up all the little red-hot candies that kids dropped in the creases of the pews. At his FUNeral everyone got to reach in and take out a few last red-hots before the coffin was closed. We have a special Facebook page in his honor here.