Paul Lionel Ray, of rural Dixon, was born on April 18, 1926, near Dixon, in Pulaski County, a son of Dorsey Lee and Martha Frances "Mattie" (Neeley) Ray, and departed this life at 7:52 a.m., on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at his residence. Mr. Ray had attained the age of 90 years, 2 months, and 11 days.

He was united in marriage on November 11, 1951, at Topeka, Kansas, to the former Miss Roma Lea Jones, and to this union, three children were born.

Mr. Ray was a member of the First Church of God in Dixon. In about 1949, at age 23, he had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized in the Gasconade River. Mr. Ray was elected and served as the Judge of the Eastern District of Pulaski County from 1972 through 1978 and was a board member for the Pulaski County Agriculture Services Commission for a number of years. He especially enjoyed attending ballgames and events involving his children and grandchildren and other activities such as traveling, sports programs, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and going to the livestock sale barn.

In the earlier years of his working life, Mr. Ray had hauled produce from surrounding states back home to sell, operated a café in Dixon, did custom hay baling, and did timber work. For the past 62 years, he has operated, along with his family, their cattle and farming operation.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Ray include: His devoted and hard-working wife of almost 65 years, Roma Ray, of the home near Dixon; his children, Paula Ray of Dixon; and twins, Jon Ray (Keri) of Dixon, and Jill Klein of Purdy; five grandchildren, Anthony Cross (Ashley) of Jefferson City, Kayla Ray of Dixon, Logan Ray (Kayla) of Dixon, Scott Klein of Purdy, and Kelsey Ray of Dixon; three great-grandchildren, Khloe Irvin, Bennett Cross, and Kamden Ray; two brothers, Robert Ray of Dixon, and Charles Ray (friend Geneva) of Dixon; two sisters, Stella Guffey (Glen) of Topeka, Kansas, and Zedna Wangerin (Gene) of Queen Creek, Arizona; nephews; nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dorsey, on June 12, 1982; his mother, Mattie, on March 28, 1974; and one brother, Sterling Ray, on December 17, 2008.