Ray was born March 4, 1952 in Springhill, LA and passed away February 7, 2026 at his home in Ringgold, LA.
After graduating in 1970 from Castor High School, he went to work offshore for McDermott. While driving around Ringgold, Ray met his wife, Barbara. They were married February 11, 1972.
Ray left McDermott to work at Lee Dry Goods and later General Electric, where he retired after over 20 years of service.
Ray enjoyed life from deer hunting, gardening, ATV mud racing, drag racing, playing softball, weekend trips to the lake camping, attending car shows with his antique cars (he loved his Mopars), and many vacations with his family.
Known as “Big Ray” from his softball days, he was loved by everyone watching him play. “Big Ray” would pull some double plays and could hit the ball a country mile over fences at Ashland, Reidhimer, and Castor.
Ray also loved his Brahman cattle and working around his farm.
He still loved to travel, going every year to Cruise the Coast in Biloxi, MS with family and friends.
Ray was a loving, caring and giving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. One of the “Greats,” said he left everyone th at knew him with many joyous mem ories, as the life he lived was the “Good Ole Days.”
Ray requested to be cremated upon his death and after Barbara joins him, family and friends will take them together to Biloxi, MS.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; Jewel Ryan an d stepfather Charles, Harry Griffith and stepmother Barbara; and brother Frank Griffith.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years Barbara; 2 daughters; Crystal Alford and husband Rudy, and Constance Ivory all of Ringgold, LA; 8 grandchildren; K iara Sims, AJ Ivory, Chey (Tall Girl) Ivory, Cullen Conly, LaLa (BabyGirl) Ivory, TJ (AJ) Alford, Le Alford, and Cat (My Baby) Alford; 1 greatgrandchild; Romi Sims; 1 niece; Sheila Guillory and husband Tony; along with many other relatives and friends.