Marie Ray

Marie Browning Ray died on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011. She was 93 years old.She was the daughter of Robert William and Bessie Mae Newton Browning. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, Colonel William L. Ray; her brother, William H. Browning Sr.; her sister, Hazel Browning Poe; and her niece, Joanna Browning Kelley.She graduated from Tyner High School and Kirkman Business College. Upon graduation, she was employed by the law firm of Lively, Lively and Thrasher. When Mr. Thrasher was appointed Register of Hamilton County, she moved to the courthouse as his deputy. When her husband was assigned to Governor Island, N.Y. and the Newark, New Jersey Depot with the U.S. Army, Marie worked in the legal department of the Titeflex Corporation that made copper tubing for military aircraft.During World War II, while her husband was stationed at Fort Lee, Va., she began her volunteering career at the USO near the camp. After returning to Chattanooga, she was a Gray Lady at Erlanger Hospital. She was active in civic and community affairs and in 1954 became affiliated with the Salvation Army Toy Store. In 1995, she and her husband were recognized as Volunteers of the Year for 40 years of continued service. She has continued with that service, health permitting.After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, she became a volunteer for Reach to Recovery of the American Cancer Society. She was a past president of the Episcopal Church Women at Grace Episcopal Church, the Red Bank Riding Club, and Hickory Valley Garden Club.She is survived by one daughter, Virginia "Ginny" Marie Ray Combs (William), Powell, Tenn.; one granddaughter, Caroline Marie Combs-Young (Gregg Young), Knoxville, Tenn.; nephews, William H. (Bettye) Browning Jr., Savannah, Ga., and Robert W. (Linda) Browning, Birmingham, Ala.Sincere gratitude is extended to the following: special friends, Lynda Fisher and Dwight Ash for their faithful, loving, and kind care for Marie, Hospice of Chattanooga for their compassion, and Bill Combs and Gregg Young for the gentle understanding, support, and flexibility they have shown over the past two months.Services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. today with Rev. Susan J. Butler and Rev. Gene Smitherman officiating.Interment will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery.Honorary pallbearers are members of Grace Quilters, Hickory Valley Garden Club, MOAA Auxillary, and Salvation Army Auxillary.The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. today in the Bishop Barth Room of Grace Episcopal Church.Memorial contributions may be made to Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Colonel William L. Ray Scholarship Trust Fund, P.O. Box 24482, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4482; The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 3359, Chattanooga, TN 37404; or Grace Episcopal Church Book of Remembrance, 20 Belvoir Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37411.Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com Arrangements are by the Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory & Florist, East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412.