24 April 2011
Austin American-Statesman
Austin, Texas
Austin American-Statesman (TX) - April 24, 2011
Deceased Name: Ernestine Joan Ray
Ernestine Joan Ray was gathered in by the Lord April 12th, early in the
morning. She was born January 14, 1936, the eldest of three daughters
born to Louis and Irene Scotch. She is survived by four of her six
children, Jeanie White, Cathy Bolles, Lisa Mitchell and Susan Cearley,
six grandchildren, her mother, and a sister, Louise Wiley.
Ernie married Daniel Ross Cearley, with whom she had her children. She
subsequently married Don Ray, who predeceased Ernie four years ago.
Ernie spent the greatest part of her life in Austin, Texas, where she
raised her family. She was canny with money and invested wisely through
the years, a point of pride for her. She loved to travel and visited
many places, including Europe and the Caribbean, but her favorite
destination was Reno, Nevada.
In later years her health worsened and she moved to Vancouver,
Washington in 2007 to be near her daughters Jeanie and Lisa, their
husbands, and four of her grandchildren. Lisa's husband, Michael, and
Jeanie are doctors and helped with her care. Ernie moved into Glenwood
Assisted Living Facility and made many fast friends there. She was
gracious and outgoing at Glenwood and helped others as need arose. She
stayed up late into the night playing Rumicube, Pinochle and other games
with a close group of friends. Doctor's appointments and lunch were
scheduled around bingo during the day. And, of course, on Monday she
would climb aboard the bus to Spirit Mountain, a local casino. It was a
day trip she loved.
Her years in Vancouver were among the happiest of her life because of
the special community at Glenwood and the sweet times she shared with
her family. Her last birthday saw many of her Texas relatives come visit
and surprise her, a grace note as her illness began to overcome her. All
her daughters were with her at the end and she expressed her love to
them and they to her. Larry, another resident at Glenwood and Ernie's
best friend, stayed constantly by her side and was a strong support for
her, and the family, as the end of her troubles arrived. Ernie will be
missed and remembered with love by all who knew her.
Jeanie and Lisa will be bringing Ernie's remains to Austin for burial,
as Ernie wished. A memorial and interment service will be held at
Cook-Walden Capital Park Cemetery Grounds, 14619 Interstate 35 North, on
May 7th at 1:00 p.m. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, please
make a donation to The Salvation Army, a favorite of Ernie's, or The
Gideons International.
Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Date: April 24, 2011
Edition: Final
Page: B03
Record Number: MERLIN_5551356
Copyright (c) 2011 Austin American-Statesman