Susan Ray

Ray, Susan Jane COTTAGE GROVE - Our loving and precious wife, mother and grandmother, Susan Jane Ray, left us after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, on to her eternal life with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Susan was born on Jan. 17, 1941, the oldest child of Wynne and Olga Sheldon. Her health had been declining this past year. She was the one who would keep on going no matter how difficult things were for her. She tried so hard to keep going for her loving husband, her beautiful children and their spouses and her very precious grandchildren, who would light up her life when in her presence. She loved to be with her friends. They talked and talked and laughed and laughed when they were together. She loved the coffee clutches, tea parties, going out to eat or shopping with them. You all made life more enjoyable for her. She wants you all to keep having a good time and savor much, for life on earth goes by very fast. Susan also loved interior decorating her home, which showed by how comfortable and inviting it was. She has been a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Monona, for 55 years, starting in the fourth grade. Susan and her husband were the first couple to get married in the new chapel, on April 23, 1960. Her children were baptized and confirmed there also. Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, were a cherished time for her, as it was another chance to be with her family, whether it be at her sisters or brothers or Susan and Bills home. Before mother and dad passed away, we all looked forward to going there for excellent food, fun and being able to see everyone all at one time. Susan is survived by her loving and good husband, Bill; her loving children, Nancy Garity, Bill Jr. (Jodi) and Tom (Lori) Ray; her deeply loved grandchildren, Josh R. Garity, Megan Ray, Amanda Ray, Kaitlin Ray, Megan Hauck and Mikayla Hauck; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Cameron and Kaleb; her dear sister, Nancy (Tom) Vick; dear brother, Bill Sheldon; her very much loved and much thought about nieces and nephews, Kris, Jeff, Eric, Becky, Steven, Jim and Julie; her dear great-nieces and nephews, Kendra, Sara, Lindsay, Justin, Amanda, Kaitlin and her youngest great-nephews, Cory Vike Jr., Joshua, Steven and Matthew; her dearly loved mother-in-law, Edna and the rest of Ednas sisters and brother; two special couples, Jim and Karen Thompson, Bill and Julie Gaschler and Linda Sheldon who were like family. She was preceded in death by her loving mother and dad; her maternal grandparents, Robert and Jenny Viken; and her paternal grandparents, Oliver and Mary Sheldon. Funeral services will be held at ST. STEPHENS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5700 Pheasant Hill Road, Monona, at 7 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, with the Rev. Nick Utphall presiding. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. Visitation will be at the church from 5 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc. or St. Stephens Lutheran Church.