Ray Glenn Ray

Ray Glenn Ray, 70, of Little Hocking, OH died Thursday, May 2, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving family. Glenn was born on October 18, 1953, in Bowling Green, Kentucky to William Brown Ray and Audrey Mable Benedict Ray Rinehart.

Glenn was a 1971 graduate of Beallsville High School near the farm he grew up on near Malaga, Ohio.  He was honored with Beallsville’s Hall of Fame Life Achiever Award in 2023. After graduating high school, Glenn went on to work for 9 years as a coal miner in both the NACC No. 6 mine and Y&O Allison mine.  Determined to complete his higher education, while working in the mines, Glenn received his Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees from Ohio University. In 1988 he proudly accomplished his goal and earned his PhD in Interpersonal Communication, also from Ohio University.

After leaving the mines, Glenn worked as HR Development and Training Manager for GE Plastics (formerly BorgWarner Chemicals).  He later became Director of The Institute of Education & Training for Business at the McDonough Center for Leadership and Business at Marietta College. In 2000, Glenn opened a consulting business, RayCom Learning, a training and organizational development company. For 20 years he worked with local businesses and companies across the Midwest.

Glenn deeply loved his family and his greatest joy was to bring laughter to every family gathering. He will be remembered as a gifted storyteller who enjoyed sharing his tales with friends, family, business associates, and anyone who would listen. Glenn loved nature and was happiest when he could be outdoors hiking, exploring the woods, or most of all, canoeing on his beloved Little Hocking River.
Glenn had a huge and giving heart.  He was eager to help others achieve their goals and the first to applaud their accomplishments. Glenn had a love of learning and an inquisitive mind. He had a passion for writing and authored four books and multiple journal articles. For eighteen years he published a column “Everyday Leadership” for The Marietta Times and later The Monroe County Beacon. Glenn also loved his community and served as President of United Way and was a Board member of the Economic Round Table, O'Neill Senior Center and Washington County Board of Elections.  Glenn’s greatest attribute was his incredible smile! He will be deeply missed.

Glenn is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Carol Morgenstern; daughter Betsy Ray (Christian) Yates; son Elijah Everette (Afsar Sheikh) Ray; and his cherished grandchildren Soren Ray Yates, Hasan Ray, and Fatimah Ray. He is also survived by his siblings Sylvia (Bob) Tatum; Joe (Sue) Ray; Jack Ray; seven nieces and nephews; and ten great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.

The family will announce a community celebration of Glenn’s life at a later date. Friends are invited to plant a tree in his memory or make a donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org).

Cawley & Peoples Funeral Homes is honored to serve Glenn's family and offers online condolences and many other resources on their website, www.CawleyandPeoples.com, or by following their Facebook page.