Obituary of J. Kenneth Ray

J. Kenneth Ray, 95, of The Terrace at The Eddy, formerly of Prout Avenue, entered into eternal life on Saturday, February 25, 2017, in the care and comfort of his loving family. Born in Troy, he was the son of the late John and Evelyn Masse Ray and the beloved husband of 61 years of the late Eileen M. Ray, who passed away on September 3, 2006. He was educated in the Troy schools and was a graduate of LaSalle Institute in Troy. Mr. Ray was the owner and operator and a fuel distributor at John Ray & Sons in Troy, which was established by his father in 1904 as an ice and coal sales and delivery business. As a young man, he assisted his father and two brothers in the daily operations, which in 1948, he expanded to include kerosene and oil. Officially retired, he was one to never stay away from the day to day operations and could be found at work until recently. Mr. Ray loved to work and family vacations in Hampton Beach, NH. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Victory Church in Sycaway. Devoted father of Jeanne C. (late Nick) Alesandro of Albany, Constance E. (Paul) Taddune of Snowmass Village, CO and Ken J. (Frances) Ray of Loudonville, cherished grandfather of Nicholas Alesandro of San Francisco, CA, Courtney Alesandro of Fredericksburg, VA, Blaise Taddune of Napa, CA, Lauren Taddune (husband, Loren Schwartz) of San Francisco, CA, Jeremy Ray of Des Moines, IA, John Ray of Boston, Justin Ray (fiancé, Caroline Monahan) of Boston, MA, adored great grandfather of Mia and Nicholas Alesandro, both of San Francisco, CA and Anthony Demers of Quincy, MA, also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings; Edwin, Jefferson and Alice Ray. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church, 55 North Lake Avenue, Troy, NY 12180 by Rev. Randall P. Patterson, Pastor. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Morris-Stebbins-Miner & Sanvidge Funeral Home, 312 Hoosick Street, Troy, NY 12180 on Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Entombment will be held in St. Mary's Cemetery Mausoleum, Troy. Mr. Ray's family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to Dr. Freshteh Salehi, the staff of The Terrace at the Eddy and the nursing staff of the sixth floor at Samaritan Hospital, for the love and care that was provided to him and his family. Memorial contributions may be made to Unity House of Troy, 2431 Sixth Avenue, Troy, NY 12180, in memory of J. Kenneth Ray. Please express your on-line condolences by visiting sanvidgefuneralhome.com