Edwin L. "Ed" Ray

Edwin Lee “Ed” Ray passed away at 6:24 am on October 30, 2023 after a long illness complicated by heart, lung, and kidney disease at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois.

Ed was born on October 13, 1945, to Cecil V. and Eloise (Wichman) Ray at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana.

He attended public schools in Vincennes, graduating from Lincoln High School in May 1963.  He furthered his education at Christian Brothers College (later Christian Brothers University) graduating in May 1967 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

While attending CBC he met his wife of 57 years, Mary Jo Fisher.  They were united in marriage on August 27, 1966 at St. Mary’s Cathedral Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Upon graduation from Christian Brothers, he accepted employment at CPC International as a process engineer in Pekin, Illinois.  After nine years, he accepted a position with the Amstar Corporation in Dimmitt, Texas as a production engineer.  He ended his career at Roquette America Keokuk, Iowa as a production manager.  Ed’s years of employment were all spent in the corn wet milling industry.  He was considered a leader and extremely knowledgeable in every facet of the industry.  He was a teacher and always challenged to learn more.

Ed was always an attentive and loving parent and grandparent.  He was actively involved in coaching their athletic endeavors and spent hours enjoying their events and rarely missed an activity or performance.

He and Mary Jo enjoyed boating, dancing, playing Bridge, and travel, especially family trips to the East Coast.

His greatest joy in retirement was his involvement with his grandsons, David and Carter.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Hubert and Albertine Fisher, brother Kenneth Dean Ray, brother-in-law Richard Fisher, and his greatly loved son Jon Anthony Ray, Esq. who passed away in 2005.

He is survived by his wife Mary Jo (Fisher) Ray, daughter Amy (John) Hanson, grandsons David Edwin Van Fleet and Jon Carter Van Fleet; as well as treasured brothers and sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva, IL 60134.

A visitation for Ed will be held Saturday, November 25, 2023 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 880 N. 6th Street, Hamilton, Illinois from 9:00 am until the time of his Celebration of Life and Mass at 11:00 am.  A luncheon will follow immediately in the church hall.

Private Interment will be held at a later date.

Arrangements handled by Malone Funeral Home, Geneva.  For more information, please call 630-232-8233 or visit malonefh.com.

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