Earl O. Ray Sr.

Earl O. Ray Sr., 84, of Albion, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.

Funeral services for Earl will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service; beginning at 1:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Earl and his family.

Earl Ople Ray Sr. was born in Marshalltown on April 1, 1942, to Jesse Forrest Ray and Ruby V. Miller. He married Carol Haskell on December 29, 1963.

Earl was a man who knew how things worked. He was a lifelong mechanic; working at Exhaust Pros Muffler Shop, Marshalltown Trowel for 14 years, and Larry’s where he built their parade car. He could also fix any lawnmower that was brought over to the house. Earl had also previously worked at the Iowa Veterans Home cleaning floors and even dug graves at the cemetery. He enjoyed fishing and hunting to sell the furs. He knew how relationships work, as evidenced by the family’s fond memories of fishing trips, hide and seek, picnics, and the vast amount of time he spent in conversation with any and everyone. Earl was a member of the Marshalltown Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Earl is survived by his wife of 62 years Carol Ray of the Albion; son: Earl “Buck” Ople Ray Jr. (Teri) of Liscomb; daughter: Viola Mae “Macy” McCombs (Ronald) of Lovilla; son: Forrest Ray (Stacey) of State Center, daughter Rebecca Ray of Albion; daughter Roberta “Bobbi” Barker (Chris) of Marshalltown; 14 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren along with his siblings: Patsy L. Ray, Diane Murra, and Leila Davis; sister-in-law Tammy Haskell Aljenfawi, along with many nieces, nephews.

In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his siblings: Doris Freland, Linda Vedbratten, and Darlene “Sue” Schmidt; and brother-in-law Terry Haskell.

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