Charlotte L. (Allen) Ray, 93, passed away at the Big Sandy Medical Center on April 5, 2016. Born on January 21, 1923, Charlotte was the second daughter of Claude James and Selma (Peterson) Allen, joining a sister Grace. Another sister, Leone, was added five years later. The small family raised sheep north of Havre where the closest neighbors were the Springers. Times were tough, so Claude Allen eventually changed professions, becoming a policeman, and the family moved into Havre. Charlotte worked at Owl Drug’s soda fountain. Losing her mother at a young age, growing up during the Great Depression, and suddenly having her country plunged into World War II, Charlotte knew what it meant to work hard at whatever the job. In her late teens she became another “Rosy the Riveter” gal at a naval air base in Alameda, CA. Her sister Grace and husband Andy Bay were living in San Francisco at the time. When they moved back to Havre, MT, Charlotte did, too.
She met Eddy Ray at a country dance, and they were married March 14, 1943. Charlotte found herself back on a small farm, this time west of Big Sandy on part of the Doc Ray homestead. In 1948, son James Claude arrived, and they moved northeast of Big Sandy to farm on the “Flat.” In 1950, son Edward Robert was added. Daughter Demrece Jean was born on Halloween in 1957. By this time, the Ray’s had built a house in Big Sandy, where they lived and raised their family while continuing to farm. Charlotte enjoyed her role as mother and housewife, the neighborhood Coffee Clubs, and being close to the school and church. She loved spending Thanksgivings and Christmases with her two sisters and their families in Havre and hosting all of them at Easter. Charlotte waitressed for a time at both the Y and the Vet’s Café, but she always had time to have friends and relatives drop by her house for a visit and something tasty to eat.
When Eddy succumbed to cancer in 1978, Charlotte found herself a widow at 55. Only a few months before that, Charlotte had taken on a new title - “Gramma”- and for the next nearly 40 years, that was the life role she cherished most. She was the perfect grandmother to her five grandchildren - always ready to babysit, give rides to the swimming pool, drive to McDonald’s for lunch, play cards and board games, make her famous popcorn balls, have Sr. Center lunches delivered to share at noon, sew doll clothes, shower with Christmas presents, but most especially, load up the motorhome and take them camping at her favorite spot, Sheehy Park.
Charlotte was a member of Big Sandy’s Christ Lutheran Church, Big Sandy Rotary Club, and the Havre Eagles. She was a life-long sports fan of all sports, but particularly those in which her children, and later her grandchildren, participated. She attended their games, tournaments and rodeos until she was nearly 90.
In the fall of 2009, Charlotte made the decision to leave her home in Big Sandy and moved to the Havre Eagle Manor Retirement Home. She lived there until April of 2015 at which time she needed more care and moved to the Timber Creek Village Assisted Living home in Havre. This past March, Charlotte took a turn for the worse and moved for the final time to the Big Sandy Medical Center where she passed away the morning of April 5.
She will be fondly remembered for her cheerful disposition, no matter what the circumstances, her beauty, inside and out, her huge collection of large clip-on earrings, her beautifully manicured and polished fingernails, her love of dancing, her humor, her excellent cooking skills, her ability to have fun and be fun, and her great love and generosity for her family and friends. She was the best! She will be sorely missed.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents Claude and Selma Allen, sister Grace Bay and brother-in-law Andy Bay (original owners of Andy’s Supper Club in Havre), sister Leone (“Rikki”) Kelly and brother-in-law Lloyd Kelly (owners of The Music Center in Havre), niece Mary Lynn (Kelly) McCue, and grandson Dana Ray.
She is survived by her three children: James (Marla) Ray, Edward Ray, and Demrece (Harvey) Keller, all of Big Sandy; nieces Sharon (Bay) Hary of Havre and Kathy (Mike) Kelly-Coleman of Williston, and a nephew Patrick (Denise) Kelly of Kalispell; and the greatest joys of her life, her five grandchildren: Duane (Carly) Ray of Bozeman, Charla Ray of Portland, Darin (Carissa) Ray of Big Sandy, Laci (fiancé Jason Christenson) Keller of Havre, and Tenley Keller, currently a student at MSU.
A memorial service and celebration of Charlotte’s life will be held on Tuesday morning, May 10, 2016, 11:00 at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. Memorials are suggested to Big Sandy Medical Center, Big Sandy New Library Fund, or Big Sandy Rotary.
