John Earl Ray, 87, of Beaumont, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont.  He was born in Beaumont on January 29, 1923, to Laura Leon Munsell Ray and James Emery Ray. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a retired production supervisor for Dupont-Beaumont Works. John was an Eagle Scout and Scout Master and enjoyed being a coach and umpire for the North End Little League. He served in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War.

He is survived by his wife of sixty seven years, Betty Jo Bertschler Ray of Beaumont; daughters, Jane Ann Kemplay and her husband Keith and Laura Wheeler, all of Beaumont; sons, John E. Ray and his wife Jan of Beaumont, William E. “Bill” Ray and his wife Mary of Nome, and Thomas J. “T.J.” Ray and his wife Rhonda of Beaumont; sisters, Margaret Farris of Galveston, Lucille Foreman and Nell Lee and her husband Norman, all of Beaumont; six grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.

His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2010, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church Choir Fund, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713 or to U.M. Army Scholarship Fund, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.