Melvin Franklin Ray

Funeral services for Melvin Franklin Ray, 89, of Portales, will be at 10:00 AM, Thurs, Sept. 15, 2022 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Don Thomas officiating, assisted by Jimmy Roberts.  Burial will follow at the Portales Cemetery with Marvin Roberts, Tadd Dictson, Coy Dewayne Dictson, Daniel Dictson, Chris Jamison, Steven Dallas, Craig Ray and Anton Goins serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Rustin Roberts, Jimmy Roberts, Dale Miller, Don Clark, Herb Newberry, Rick Ledbetter, Wayne Hardin, the Arch community and fellow farming families and all other family and friends. The family will receive guests at the funeral home Wed., Sept. 14, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 PM.

Melvin Franklin Ray left this world on September 11, 2022 after a short illness in Lubbock, TX. He was born on the family farm in Portales, NM, on Feb. 27, 1933 to Benjamin Franklin and Minnie Maude (Lee) Ray. He started farming on his own at the age of 13. He was well known in the farming community for farming cotton, peanuts, and corn. He met his bride, Betty Lou Hill in 1953. They later married in Portales, NM on Feb. 14, 1954, and were happily married for 68 years. They were blessed with 2 children, Warren Ray and Tammy Dictson.

Melvin took a break from farming in 1957, and moved to Dumas, TX where he worked at the Shamrock plant in Sun Ray, TX.  They returned to the farm in 1960, and he continued to farm until he retired in 2003. Melvin just loved farming, and watching his crops grow.  He could listen to Bluegrass music all day long.  Above all, he loved his family, and just enjoyed spending time with them.  Melvin was a lifelong member of the Central Christian Church.

Melvin is survived by his wife Betty Lou Ray of their home; and his son and daughter-in-law, Warren Ray and Virginia Ray of Liberal, KS; and his daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Coy Dictson of Hondo, NM. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Angela (Justin) Montgomery, Samantha “Abby” (Steven) Dallas, Coy Dewayne (Shannon) Dictson, Jessica (Chris) Jamison, and Daniel (Anna) Dictson; and by 15 great-grandchildren, Alexis, Emma, Sidney, Craig, Brianna, Anton, Delanie, Tadd, Kelsey, Madison, Ava, Peyton, Liv, Rheagan, and Lincoln in addition to 3 great-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Benjamin Franklin and Minnie Maude Lee Ray; an infant sister, Roxie Pearl who died at birth; a sister, Marylee Prichard; a sister Maudene Haragan; and a grandson, BJ Ray.

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