Willis was born in LaCygne , Kansas to Willis Jackson and Margurite Emery Ray. He the 9th of 12 children and was raised in Wilmore, Kansas. He married Ida Sherer in 1917. They had two children Richard Vernon and Lois Phonitia. . He farmed and published a newspaper in Wilmore until the call of the Lord was so strong on his life moved with his family to Texas He received his Doctorate in 1931 at Hardin-Simmons Baptist College in Abilene, Texas. Friends encouraged him to go to the newly forming Baptist churches in Arizona. When the Rays arrived there were 25 small Baptist Churches when he retired there were more than 200 congregations. Dr. Ray was the driving force in the founding of Grand Canyon University and in1956 served as it's first president. He served as executive secretary of the newly formed Baptist General Convention of Arizona ( now Southern Baptist Convention).
At the time of his " home going" he left to miss him his wife Aurelia , whom he married after Ida passed, his daughter Phonita Drake , one grandson and two great grandchildren.
At the time of his " home going" he left to miss him his wife Aurelia , whom he married after Ida passed, his daughter Phonita Drake , one grandson and two great grandchildren.
Willis was born in LaCygne , Kansas to Willis Jackson and Margurite Emery Ray. He the 9th of 12 children and was raised in Wilmore, Kansas. He married Ida Sherer in 1917. They had two children Richard Vernon and Lois Phonitia. . He farmed and published a newspaper in Wilmore until the call of the Lord was so strong on his life moved with his family to Texas He received his Doctorate in 1931 at Hardin-Simmons Baptist College in Abilene, Texas. Friends encouraged him to go to the newly forming Baptist churches in Arizona. When the Rays arrived there were 25 small Baptist Churches when he retired there were more than 200 congregations. Dr. Ray was the driving force in the founding of Grand Canyon University and in1956 served as it's first president. He served as executive secretary of the newly formed Baptist General Convention of Arizona ( now Southern Baptist Convention).
At the time of his " home going" he left to miss him his wife Aurelia , whom he married after Ida passed, his daughter Phonita Drake , one grandson and two great grandchildren.
At the time of his " home going" he left to miss him his wife Aurelia , whom he married after Ida passed, his daughter Phonita Drake , one grandson and two great grandchildren.
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