Michael Edward Ray
September 16, 1952 - October 12, 2004
Michael “Mike” Edward Ray was born September 16, 1952, at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas, to Taylor and Addie Mae Ray.
Mike died unexpectedly on October 12, 2004, at his home in Chandler, Texas. His death was believed to have resulted from complications of heart bypass surgery performed about six years ago.
Mike and his two brothers, Danny and David, were raised in northeast Austin and attended Harris Elementary School, Pearce Junior High School and Reagan High School. As a youth, he played baseball at Delwood Optimist. At Reagan HS he was a star football lineman and was part of the 1968 State and National Championship football team.
Mike’s love of adventure was revealed by his “dam sliding” at Lake Travis as a teen. He loved motorcycles, Cameros and other fast cars. He also loved fishing and spent many enjoyable hours at lakes surrounding Austin, the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and eventually the Tyler/Chandler area.
Mike’s artistic gifts were reflected in his carpentry. His skills led him to begin his own contracting company. During the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Mike built a number of the Short Stop Hamburger restaurants and remodeled Mr. Gatti’s restaurants both in Austin, and in Houston. When the building industry bust occurred in the 1980’s he began working for a national building contractor and performed military base remodeling work in Oklahoma and Florida for about 15 years. During the 1990’s Mike was in charge of a dam building project in Idaho.
Mike was a truly giving and caring dad. He dearly loved his two kids. Some of his favorite times were when he took his family on vacation.
He was proceeded in death by his father, Taylor Mearon Duane Ray.
Mike is survived by his children, Jami Jo, 22, and Cooper, 17, of Chandler; his mother, Addie Mae Ray of Austin; brother, Danny Ray and his children, Christopher MacKenzie and Ian of Blanco; brother, David Ray, and his children, Chelsea and Zach of Austin.
