Ray Howard Smith was born on March 23, 1934 in Charleston, Missouri with the help of his grandmother, Mary Frances Emmanuel. He was the only surviving child of William Eddie Smith and Cecilia Francis Emanuel.
Ray Howard Smith would retell events from his childhood such as his family tending to crops, having to flee the flooding of the Mississippi River on foot with his grandmother, and fishing with his two cousins during the summer. He was raised by his maternal grandmother until being brought to Indianapolis to live with his mother and stepfather James Witherspoon.
Ray attended Crispus Attucks High School and participated in athletics such as playing football, running track, and wrestling. He met his high school sweet heart, Doris Laverne Jackson while attending Crispus Attucks High School and they were married on March 25, 1955.
Ray began service in the US Army in July 1955 and was stationed in Lawton, Oklahoma. He left the service as a Specialist third Class (SPC3) in July 1958.
Ray and Doris were married for 55 years and had 3 children Dewitt (born in Lawton, Oklahoma; 1958), Marlen (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1959), and Charmane (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1962). After leaving the service, Ray began working in metalwork in Marion, Indiana. In the early 1960s, Ray worked at City Plating Company until its closure. He developed skills such as general contractor, repairing roofs, cutting trees, and removing snow.
Throughout Ray's life he was an energetic, servant of God who sought to win souls for the kingdom of Heaven. He was a devoted Seventh-day Adventist Christian, served as an elder for various churches, and established the Capital Avenue Basketball team. He developed friendships at Ephesus SDA church, Capital Avenue (now Capital City), and Glendale SDA. He helped to start the Berean Company Church and later became a charter member when the churches name changed to Westside Ministries. Ray Howard Smith used his talents to help Westside Ministries and many people across the city of Indianapolis. His abilities led him into entrepreneurship of landscaping and general contracting.
His wife Doris Laverne preceded him in death on July 19, 2010.
He is survived by three married children: Dewitt & wife Lovie Smith, Marlen & wife Goletha Smith, Charmane & husband David L. Williams; six grandchildren: Tamika Lopez, Angelina Smith, David R. & wife Marissa Williams, RaSean & wife Rochelle Smith, Noni Smith, and Antron Patton; and eight Great grandchildren: Ray-Anthony Smith, Malik Smith, Royce Lopez, Caleb Lopez, Camden Smith, John Carlos Rodriguez, Antroneill Patton, and Antron Patton Jr.; One - Sister in Law Gorgett Jackson, One Special cousin in law Katherine Golden; numerous nephews and nieces; church family and friends. Family, church members, and friends visited Ray Howard Smith at his home until he went to sleep in Jesus on Monday, May 17, 2021 at the age of 87. Even in his illness, he would comfort those that came to pay their respect before his passing by saying "I cannot live forever." He had put his trust in Christ and lived a full life. He pointed the least of these to Christ, and loved his family by being a provider, a protector, and a priest. He took his first breath within his childhood home and poetically gave his last breath in his family home.
Ray Howard Smith would retell events from his childhood such as his family tending to crops, having to flee the flooding of the Mississippi River on foot with his grandmother, and fishing with his two cousins during the summer. He was raised by his maternal grandmother until being brought to Indianapolis to live with his mother and stepfather James Witherspoon.
Ray attended Crispus Attucks High School and participated in athletics such as playing football, running track, and wrestling. He met his high school sweet heart, Doris Laverne Jackson while attending Crispus Attucks High School and they were married on March 25, 1955.
Ray began service in the US Army in July 1955 and was stationed in Lawton, Oklahoma. He left the service as a Specialist third Class (SPC3) in July 1958.
Ray and Doris were married for 55 years and had 3 children Dewitt (born in Lawton, Oklahoma; 1958), Marlen (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1959), and Charmane (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1962). After leaving the service, Ray began working in metalwork in Marion, Indiana. In the early 1960s, Ray worked at City Plating Company until its closure. He developed skills such as general contractor, repairing roofs, cutting trees, and removing snow.
Throughout Ray's life he was an energetic, servant of God who sought to win souls for the kingdom of Heaven. He was a devoted Seventh-day Adventist Christian, served as an elder for various churches, and established the Capital Avenue Basketball team. He developed friendships at Ephesus SDA church, Capital Avenue (now Capital City), and Glendale SDA. He helped to start the Berean Company Church and later became a charter member when the churches name changed to Westside Ministries. Ray Howard Smith used his talents to help Westside Ministries and many people across the city of Indianapolis. His abilities led him into entrepreneurship of landscaping and general contracting.
His wife Doris Laverne preceded him in death on July 19, 2010.
He is survived by three married children: Dewitt & wife Lovie Smith, Marlen & wife Goletha Smith, Charmane & husband David L. Williams; six grandchildren: Tamika Lopez, Angelina Smith, David R. & wife Marissa Williams, RaSean & wife Rochelle Smith, Noni Smith, and Antron Patton; and eight Great grandchildren: Ray-Anthony Smith, Malik Smith, Royce Lopez, Caleb Lopez, Camden Smith, John Carlos Rodriguez, Antroneill Patton, and Antron Patton Jr.; One - Sister in Law Gorgett Jackson, One Special cousin in law Katherine Golden; numerous nephews and nieces; church family and friends. Family, church members, and friends visited Ray Howard Smith at his home until he went to sleep in Jesus on Monday, May 17, 2021 at the age of 87. Even in his illness, he would comfort those that came to pay their respect before his passing by saying "I cannot live forever." He had put his trust in Christ and lived a full life. He pointed the least of these to Christ, and loved his family by being a provider, a protector, and a priest. He took his first breath within his childhood home and poetically gave his last breath in his family home.
Ray Howard Smith was born on March 23, 1934 in Charleston, Missouri with the help of his grandmother, Mary Frances Emmanuel. He was the only surviving child of William Eddie Smith and Cecilia Francis Emanuel.
Ray Howard Smith would retell events from his childhood such as his family tending to crops, having to flee the flooding of the Mississippi River on foot with his grandmother, and fishing with his two cousins during the summer. He was raised by his maternal grandmother until being brought to Indianapolis to live with his mother and stepfather James Witherspoon.
Ray attended Crispus Attucks High School and participated in athletics such as playing football, running track, and wrestling. He met his high school sweet heart, Doris Laverne Jackson while attending Crispus Attucks High School and they were married on March 25, 1955.
Ray began service in the US Army in July 1955 and was stationed in Lawton, Oklahoma. He left the service as a Specialist third Class (SPC3) in July 1958.
Ray and Doris were married for 55 years and had 3 children Dewitt (born in Lawton, Oklahoma; 1958), Marlen (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1959), and Charmane (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1962). After leaving the service, Ray began working in metalwork in Marion, Indiana. In the early 1960s, Ray worked at City Plating Company until its closure. He developed skills such as general contractor, repairing roofs, cutting trees, and removing snow.
Throughout Ray's life he was an energetic, servant of God who sought to win souls for the kingdom of Heaven. He was a devoted Seventh-day Adventist Christian, served as an elder for various churches, and established the Capital Avenue Basketball team. He developed friendships at Ephesus SDA church, Capital Avenue (now Capital City), and Glendale SDA. He helped to start the Berean Company Church and later became a charter member when the churches name changed to Westside Ministries. Ray Howard Smith used his talents to help Westside Ministries and many people across the city of Indianapolis. His abilities led him into entrepreneurship of landscaping and general contracting.
His wife Doris Laverne preceded him in death on July 19, 2010.
He is survived by three married children: Dewitt & wife Lovie Smith, Marlen & wife Goletha Smith, Charmane & husband David L. Williams; six grandchildren: Tamika Lopez, Angelina Smith, David R. & wife Marissa Williams, RaSean & wife Rochelle Smith, Noni Smith, and Antron Patton; and eight Great grandchildren: Ray-Anthony Smith, Malik Smith, Royce Lopez, Caleb Lopez, Camden Smith, John Carlos Rodriguez, Antroneill Patton, and Antron Patton Jr.; One - Sister in Law Gorgett Jackson, One Special cousin in law Katherine Golden; numerous nephews and nieces; church family and friends. Family, church members, and friends visited Ray Howard Smith at his home until he went to sleep in Jesus on Monday, May 17, 2021 at the age of 87. Even in his illness, he would comfort those that came to pay their respect before his passing by saying "I cannot live forever." He had put his trust in Christ and lived a full life. He pointed the least of these to Christ, and loved his family by being a provider, a protector, and a priest. He took his first breath within his childhood home and poetically gave his last breath in his family home.
Ray Howard Smith would retell events from his childhood such as his family tending to crops, having to flee the flooding of the Mississippi River on foot with his grandmother, and fishing with his two cousins during the summer. He was raised by his maternal grandmother until being brought to Indianapolis to live with his mother and stepfather James Witherspoon.
Ray attended Crispus Attucks High School and participated in athletics such as playing football, running track, and wrestling. He met his high school sweet heart, Doris Laverne Jackson while attending Crispus Attucks High School and they were married on March 25, 1955.
Ray began service in the US Army in July 1955 and was stationed in Lawton, Oklahoma. He left the service as a Specialist third Class (SPC3) in July 1958.
Ray and Doris were married for 55 years and had 3 children Dewitt (born in Lawton, Oklahoma; 1958), Marlen (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1959), and Charmane (born in Indianapolis, Indiana; 1962). After leaving the service, Ray began working in metalwork in Marion, Indiana. In the early 1960s, Ray worked at City Plating Company until its closure. He developed skills such as general contractor, repairing roofs, cutting trees, and removing snow.
Throughout Ray's life he was an energetic, servant of God who sought to win souls for the kingdom of Heaven. He was a devoted Seventh-day Adventist Christian, served as an elder for various churches, and established the Capital Avenue Basketball team. He developed friendships at Ephesus SDA church, Capital Avenue (now Capital City), and Glendale SDA. He helped to start the Berean Company Church and later became a charter member when the churches name changed to Westside Ministries. Ray Howard Smith used his talents to help Westside Ministries and many people across the city of Indianapolis. His abilities led him into entrepreneurship of landscaping and general contracting.
His wife Doris Laverne preceded him in death on July 19, 2010.
He is survived by three married children: Dewitt & wife Lovie Smith, Marlen & wife Goletha Smith, Charmane & husband David L. Williams; six grandchildren: Tamika Lopez, Angelina Smith, David R. & wife Marissa Williams, RaSean & wife Rochelle Smith, Noni Smith, and Antron Patton; and eight Great grandchildren: Ray-Anthony Smith, Malik Smith, Royce Lopez, Caleb Lopez, Camden Smith, John Carlos Rodriguez, Antroneill Patton, and Antron Patton Jr.; One - Sister in Law Gorgett Jackson, One Special cousin in law Katherine Golden; numerous nephews and nieces; church family and friends. Family, church members, and friends visited Ray Howard Smith at his home until he went to sleep in Jesus on Monday, May 17, 2021 at the age of 87. Even in his illness, he would comfort those that came to pay their respect before his passing by saying "I cannot live forever." He had put his trust in Christ and lived a full life. He pointed the least of these to Christ, and loved his family by being a provider, a protector, and a priest. He took his first breath within his childhood home and poetically gave his last breath in his family home.
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