World War II Purple Heart Recipient. Ray was born to Jasper and Willie (Baker) Kyle. He was the youngest of three sons and was predeceased by his two older brothers, Clifford and Cranford Kyle. Ray was a World War II Purple Heart decorated veteran. Ray served in the 7th Army under General Patton. The men in his unit called him "Alabama". Ray was wounded in both North Africa and Italy. In 1947, he married Miss Betty Faye Ware. Ray moved his family from Adamsville, Alabama to Hillsborough County, Florida in 1955; where he took a job as building superintendent with Spiller's Home Builders. At that time him and his wife purchased a home on 10 acres in Durant, Florida on Martin Road. His son Tim nicknamed his dad "Razor" after Tim was grown and that nickname stuck. Ray was a general/roofing contractor until his retirement at age 82. He is survived by his former wife, Betty of Valrico; four sons, Jerry (Debi) of Valrico; Tim (Terri) of Tampa; David (Shannon) of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Kris (Debbie) of Valrico. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Michelle, Shawn, Preston, Devin, Stephanie, and Cameron Kyle. In December 2009, Devin Michael Kyle, Jr. was born; making Ray a great-grandfather. Ray never talked about World War II with the exception of saying, "You don't know what dark is and you don't know what it's like to be scared." His mother said he was different when he came home from the war as I am sure many were after seeing the horrors they did. Ray loved going to dog tracks and casinos, he loved playing cards, he loved his cows and when he was no longer able to have cows he use to go to an abandoned warehouse and feed stray cats. Seemed he always needed animals to take care - he had taken care of animals all his life. Ray never met a stranger and it was absolutely impossible to embarrass him. You never knew what he'd say or when or where he'd HOLLER it out. He had many favorite sayings but a couple were: "I'M THE GREATEST!" and another was when he was leaving somewhere, "Glad you got to see me." His son, Tim got some cows and named the only bull "Razor" after his dad because Ray truly was the king of cattle. - written by: Terri Eiland
World War II Purple Heart Recipient. Ray was born to Jasper and Willie (Baker) Kyle. He was the youngest of three sons and was predeceased by his two older brothers, Clifford and Cranford Kyle. Ray was a World War II Purple Heart decorated veteran. Ray served in the 7th Army under General Patton. The men in his unit called him "Alabama". Ray was wounded in both North Africa and Italy. In 1947, he married Miss Betty Faye Ware. Ray moved his family from Adamsville, Alabama to Hillsborough County, Florida in 1955; where he took a job as building superintendent with Spiller's Home Builders. At that time him and his wife purchased a home on 10 acres in Durant, Florida on Martin Road. His son Tim nicknamed his dad "Razor" after Tim was grown and that nickname stuck. Ray was a general/roofing contractor until his retirement at age 82. He is survived by his former wife, Betty of Valrico; four sons, Jerry (Debi) of Valrico; Tim (Terri) of Tampa; David (Shannon) of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Kris (Debbie) of Valrico. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Michelle, Shawn, Preston, Devin, Stephanie, and Cameron Kyle. In December 2009, Devin Michael Kyle, Jr. was born; making Ray a great-grandfather. Ray never talked about World War II with the exception of saying, "You don't know what dark is and you don't know what it's like to be scared." His mother said he was different when he came home from the war as I am sure many were after seeing the horrors they did. Ray loved going to dog tracks and casinos, he loved playing cards, he loved his cows and when he was no longer able to have cows he use to go to an abandoned warehouse and feed stray cats. Seemed he always needed animals to take care - he had taken care of animals all his life. Ray never met a stranger and it was absolutely impossible to embarrass him. You never knew what he'd say or when or where he'd HOLLER it out. He had many favorite sayings but a couple were: "I'M THE GREATEST!" and another was when he was leaving somewhere, "Glad you got to see me." His son, Tim got some cows and named the only bull "Razor" after his dad because Ray truly was the king of cattle. - written by: Terri Eiland
