Doris Elaine Lampe Ray
Doris Elaine Lampe Ray, 94, of Vandalia, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Tri-County Care Center.
The funeral was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Vandalia, on Saturday, Aug.20.
Waters Funeral Home was in charge of the service and burial was in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Pallbearers were Paul Ray, Dickie Chapin, John Paul Ray, Adam Williams, Ryan Niemeyer, and Guy Houser. Honorary pallbearer was Ken Ray.
Doris was born in Wellsville, on April 10, 1928, the second child of Edward Henry Lampe and Lola Marie Barton. Their first child, a son, Edward Lampe Jr., died two weeks after birth.
Doris graduated from Wellsville High School in 1945 and attended Rubicam Business School in St. Louis. She worked as a secretary for Republican Representative T.O. Hamm at the state capitol in Jefferson City.
She was united in marriage to Clarence E. Ray on July 3, 1948 at the Methodist Church in Mexico. He preceded her in death on Sept. 21, 2010. One daughter, Mary Ann Ray, died shortly after birth. One son, Jim Ray, died on Oct. 31, 2021. His wife, Monique Ray, of Springfield, survives. One grandchild, James Ray II, died on May 10, 2022. His wife, Elizabeth Ray, of Buffalo, survives.
Surviving children are Pat Ray Trower and husband Eddie, Mike Ray and wife Debbie, and Paul Ray, all of Vandalia.
Grandchildren are Dickie Chapin and wife, Jodi of Los Angeles, Calif., Rachel Williams and husband Adam of Valley Park, Allison Houser and husband Guy of Ballwin, Ashley Niemeyer and husband Ryan of Lake St. Louis, Joanne Henry and husband Mitch of Ava, John Paul Ray of Marathon Key, Fla., Michael Ray of Scottsdale, Ariz., Joe Ray and wife Ali of San Diego, Calif., John Gerdeman Ray of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Spencer Trower of St. Louis.
Great-grandchildren are Phoebe Chapin, Lola Chapin, Haven Niemeyer, Luke Niemeyer, Charlotte (Lottie) Niemeyer, Liam Henry, Harper Ray, Landon Ray, Margot Houser, Brady Houser, James Ray III, Jonathan Ray, and Joshua Ray.
Doris was a member of the Methodist Church in Wellsville until her marriage.
Clarence and Doris moved to Macon, where Clarence taught vo-ag. They became members of the Macon Methodist Church until they moved to Vandalia in 1951. In 1965 they moved to a farm south of Vandalia and joined the Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church where Doris was a Deacon and Elder. When they moved back to Vandalia in 2000 they moved their membership to the First Presbyterian Church in Vandalia.
Doris was a member of the Monday Study Club, Presbyterian Quilters, Bible School teacher, and Cub Scout Leader.
She enjoyed gardening, quilting, milking her Jersey cow, raising chickens, and taking care of her four dachshund dogs over the years. They were all named Hans.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, or to the Vandalia Area Historical Society.
Online condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed on Doris's memorial page at www.watersfuneral.com.
