Guyton Ray

Guyton Ray
1931 - 2022
Kalamazoo, MI

Preceded in death by several substitute parents, Josie Harris, Ruth and Joe Long, Mrs. Sisco, Ethel Brown Russell, Josephina Guana Ramos, as well as his mother, Ezella Ray.

Survived by, his wife, Venah Ray; sister, Eva Ray Long (Orrin); son, Donald Gregory Ray (Unita); daughters, Robyn Carter (Vincent), Renee McParlan (Jeff), Melissa Ray and many grandchildren and great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Guy came with Florida relatives to Kalamazoo for farm work at 8 years old and went back south about a year later. Because of racial tensions in Florida, he wanted to come back to Michigan. Grocer JL Burke paid Guy $1 per week and helped him save and buy a $42 train ticket. He returned alone to Michigan at 10-11 years old and was helped by many of the families above through his school years. Joe Long taught Guy how to repair shoes at Boston Shoe Repairs. He excelled in track and field and academics at Kalamazoo Central and later earned some college credits at K College and WMU. He started his first family while working at Brown Paper and later studied to become an insurance agent, a career, he spent 39 years with Mutual of Detroit. In 1973 he remarried and began a second family and when he was about 45, found his younger sister in Florida and then a few years later they reconnected with their mother. Guy liked gardening, fishing, bowling, and playing cards.

A memorial will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be welcome to Loaves & Fishes of Kalamazoo, Christian Neighbors of Plainwell, or Habitat for Humanity. Arrangements entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 622 S. Burdick St, Kalamazoo MI 49007. To view Guy's personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com