Roma Lea Ray, of Dixon, was born on October 23, 1932, near Dixon, in Pulaski County, a daughter of Bennett Garrett and Ethel Ira (Crismon) Jones, and departed this life at 4:50 p.m., on Wednesday evening, August 26, 2020, in SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital, Jefferson City. Mrs. Ray had attained the age of 87 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

Mrs. Ray was united in marriage on November 11, 1951, at Topeka, Kansas, to Paul Lionel Ray, and to this union, three children were born.

During Roma's school years, she worked part time at her parents' dime store business. She was valedictorian of her Dixon High School Class of 1950, and after graduation, attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana.

Roma accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and followed Him in baptism early in life. She was a faithful and dedicated member of the First Church of God in Dixon serving in various capacities through the years being on the church board, a Sunday school teacher for many years, the song leader, and director of Sunday morning church activities until time for the minister to deliver the sermon. Roma also sang "specials" with others at the front of the church, at times with her father, and later with her oldest grandson.

During her working life, Roma worked in a restaurant for a while, and then was employed in 1952 by Gascosage Electric Co-operative in Dixon until retiring from there in 1972.  She also assisted with the family farm and cattle operation including cooking bountiful meals for hay hands, doing the bookkeeping, and taxes.

Roma's interests and hobbies were her children, grandchildren, her faith in God, her church, singing, collecting stamps, coins, recipes, and antiques, and especially loving to read. She enjoyed being with her family, attending their sporting events, and being present at any activity of which they were a part. Roma's life was an example of devotion to her faith, family, and home.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Ray include: Her children, Paula Ray, of Dixon; and twins, Jill Klein, of Purdy, and Jon Ray and wife, Keri, of Dixon; her five grandchildren, Anthony Cross and wife, Ashley, of Huntersville, North Carolina; Kayla Ray of Dixon; Logan Ray and wife, Kayla, of Dixon; Scott Klein of Purdy; and Kelsey Sadler and husband, Chris, of Columbia; her six great-grandchildren, Khloe Irvin, Bennett Cross, Kamden Ray, Andrew Cross, Kade Ray, and Claire Cross; her brother, Donley Jones, of Vienna; two brothers-in-law, Glen Guffey of Topeka, Kansas, and Robert Ray of Waynesville; six nephews, four nieces, with greats as well; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-four years, Paul, on June 29, 2016; her father, Bennett, on July 20, 1995; her mother, Ethel, on March 8, 1970; and one sister, Juanita Ruth Kardatzke, on January 10, 2020; one nephew, Marvin Guffey, on October 4, 2008; one niece, Debra Ray, on February 26, 1965; four sisters-in-law; and four brothers-in-law.

Visitation for Mrs. Roma Lea Ray will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., on Friday, September 4, 2020, in the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, 105 East Third Street, Dixon, Missouri 65459, with her funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel with Pastor Beverly Sharp and Pastor Jack Caple officiating.

Interment will be next to her beloved husband, Paul, in the Fox Crossing Cemetery near Dixon under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Dixon. Pallbearers for Mrs. Ray will be Anthony Cross, Logan Ray, Scott Klein, Bobby Ray, Austin Ray, and Heath Akery, and her Honorary pallbearers will be Kayla Ray, Kelsey Sadler, Khloe Irvin, Bennett Cross, Kamden Ray, Andrew Cross, Kade Ray, and Claire Cross.

The Ray Family extends an invitation to all in attendance to share a meal with them in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, 400 West Fourth Street, Dixon, Missouri 65459, following the committal ceremony in the Fox Crossing Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Roma Lea Ray are suggested by her family to the Fox Crossing Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the funeral home or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.