Robert Raymond "Ray" Negray, 75, of 216 E. Livingston Road, died at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2000 at Camelot Terrace.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen's Church, Msgr. Peter Bolerasky officiating. Organist Sharon Hatzer will accompany soloist Ricardo Dittmer. Music will include: "On This Day, O Beautiful Mother," "Krasna Si Maria" and "How Great Thou Art." Burial will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery, the Rev. Jeffrey Lawrence officiating. Full military rites, including flag folding, taps, honor guard and firing squad, will be conducted at the cemetery by Streator Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1492 and Streator Leslie G. Woods American Legion Post 217.

Pallbearers will be: son-in-law Jim Gallick; nephews: John and Randy Negray, Jack Peruba and David Wargo; and brother-in-law Edward Wargo.
Honorary pallbearer will be: granddaughter Chelsea Negray; nephews: Tim, Mike and Troy Negray, Denny Peruba, Don and Gregg Spradling, and Ted, Matt and Larry Wargo; brother-in-law: Paul Klein; Bob Mudrock, Mike Vargochik, Jack Held, Joe Fialko, Greg Cook and Bob Mauzy.; and Third Degree members of the Knights of Columbus: Joseph Corrigan, Richard Bednar, Gerald Harcharik, Richard Killian, Daniel Koval and Patrick McClernon.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday at Solon & Baker Funeral Home with rosary recited at 6 p.m.

He was born February 18, 1925 in Streator, a son of John and Anna (Bavolar) Negray. He married Anna Mae Wargo on May 7, 1949 in St. Stephen's Church.

Surviving are his wife; a daughter: Rosanne (James) Gallick of Streator; a son: Ken (Theresa) Negray of Princeton, Kentucky; three grandchildren; and sisters: Matilda Peruba of Streator, Marcella (Carl) Bute of Ottawa, Emma Bundy of LaCrescenta, California, Leona Thornton of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Eleanor (Carl) Spradling of New Boston.

Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters: Mary Deminsky and Ann Felter; and brothers: George and John Negray.

He worked at Anthony Company in Streator for over 35 years and retired from St. Mary's Hospital as a carpenter.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes in the Rhineland.

He was a Third Degree member of Msgr. George A. Dzuryo Knights of Columbus Council 790, VFW, American Legion and St. Clements Lodge Branch 40 of the First Catholic Slovak Union of America.

--The Times (Streator, Illinois) 26 May 2000, Fri, page 2--