Thomas William Ray

Ray, Thomas William COTTAGE GROVE – Our loving and precious husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend left us on Friday, June 5, at his home, surrounded by his family and friends to go to his eternal home in heaven. Tom, age 47, was born on January 19, 1968, in Madison, the youngest son of Susan and William Ray Sr. He attended Monona Grove High School, class of 1986. Tom was the owner of Tom's Exteriors the inventor of "The Original Sidewinder Plus", and plowed snow for Capital City Lawn Care. He was united in marriage to his loving wife, Lori Prey, on April 17, 1993, and they were blessed with their daughter, Amanda, who they were so proud of. There wasn't one day that was wasted in Tom's short life. Those days were filled with going "up north," the joys of hunting, snowmobiling, fishing, Nascar, remodeling his home as well as others, and making memories with family and friends. Tom's enjoyment of life lasted to the very end. He is survived by his loving wife, Lori, of Cottage Grove; daughter, Amanda of De Pere; father, William Ray Sr.; sister, Nancy Ray; and brother, William Ray Jr., all of Cottage Grove; his nieces and nephews, Joshua (Jen) Garity, Megan (Bill) Alexander, Kaitlin Ray, and Megan and Mikayla Hauck; his great nieces and nephews, Cal-El Garity, Cameron, Kailin and Colton Alexander, Chesney Ray; father and mother-in-law, Bob Prey, Sr. and Marlene of DePere; his aunts and uncles, Nancy and Tom Vick and Bill Sheldon; all his cousins which he loved very much, as well as everyone that is part of Tom's family and friends, who knows the man that he was and how much he loved each and every one of you. He was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Ray; his mother-in-law, Neva Prey; his grandparents, Olga and Wynne Sheldon and "Grandma and Grandpa on the farm." Tom will be greatly missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him. A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 3 p.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday. A celebration of life will follow at the OUTPOST BAR AND GRILL, 227 N. Main St., Cottage Grove. Special thanks to Dr. Hegeman and Nurse Cynthia at the U.W. Carbone Cancer Center, Dr. Jaskunas at Meriter Hospital, the Meriter Hospital staff of 8 Atrium and the Heartland Hospice nursing staff. "When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live. So live. Live. Fight like Hell. And when you get too tired to fight, lay down and rest, and let somebody else fight for you." - Stuart Scott Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420