Ray Love, Jr. 77, of Greenville, passed away on Thursday, January 3, 2019 in Bonham, Texas. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M., Sunday, January 6, 2019 at Highland Terrace Baptist Church with his nephew, Rev. Andy Narramore officiating. Burial will be in Memoryland Memorial Park. Visitation will be Saturday, January 5, 2019 from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Mr. Love was born August 16, 1941 in Greenville, Texas to Jefferson Ray Love, Sr. and Benita Viola Harthcock. He graduated from Greenville High School in the Class of 1959 and attended East Texas State University in Commerce. He married Peggy Ann Abernathy in Greenville, Texas on June 18, 1965. He was the former owner of J.R. Love Company in Celeste and Leslie- McKinnon Company in Greenville. During his working years, he traveled extensively across the United States. He was a veteran of the United States Army in the 1960s at Fort Polk, Fort Sam Houston, Fort Knox and Aschaffenburg, Germany, where he and Peggy were able to travel to England, Scotland and many European countries at the end of his time in the service. He was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church for over 45 years where he served as a deacon and taught Sunday School classes. Ray was a former member of the Greenville AF & AM Masonic Lodge #335, 32nd degree Mason, York Rite, DeMolay and Knights Templar. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, extended family, the outdoors, hunting, camping and arrowhead hunting. He also enjoyed genealogy, reading, (mainly history and Bible) and was an almost unbeatable ping pong, checkers and chess player.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy Love; sons, Jefferson Matthew Love and wife, Kelli and John Britton Love and wife, Jennifer; sisters, Grace Marie Love Narramore and husband, James and Betty Louise Love Shepherd; grandchildren, Charlesie Claire Love, John Bentley Love, Hayley Caroline Love and Reagan Matthew Love.
He is preceded in death by his parents and nephew, David Kelly Shepherd.
Pallbearers will be Jeff M. Love, Britt Love, Oliver Love, Jim Narramore, Steven Narramore and Hayden Narramore.
Memorials may be made to Texas Masonic Charities Foundation or Little River Baptist Church at 4304 FM 979, Cameron, Texas 76520.