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- [S5] Obituary.
Leslie S. Ray Jr. 89, beloved husband of Katharine (Nolan) Ray of Peabody and the late Marcia (Caverly) Ray, died Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Beverly Hospital, surrounded by his family. Residing most of his life in Topsfield, Hamilton, and later in Peabody, he was the son of the late Leslie S. Ray Sr. and Hope (Towne) Ray. He attended Topsfield High School and earned a Bachelors degree from the University of Maine where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In 1954, Mr. Ray founded the Leslie S. Ray Insurance Agency, Inc. on Route 1A in North Beverly. Always an entrepreneur, he was also an owner/ partner in both a real estate agency and a travel agency business. He also had a large role in founding the Colonial National Bank which is now part of Eastern Bank. While working tirelessly in and building his successful insurance business, Mr. Ray became a Past President of the New England Professional Insurance Agents and was voted Man of the Year by the Boston Board of Fire Underwriters. He was a Past National Director of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, Past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Greater Beverly, a founding member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors and a past member of the Governing Committee of the Massachusetts Automobile Reinsurers. Active in many professional and civic organizations, he was a past member of the Kiwanis Club of Beverly, a life member of the Beverly Rotary Club, past member of the Board of Trustees of the Greater Beverly Y.M.C.A., and past Director of the Beverly Cooperative Bank (now Beverly Bank). Very active with the United Way, Mr. Ray was past Chairman of the Budget Committee, past Hamilton community chairman, past General Campaign Chairman and was awarded the Chairmans Cup in 1997 for extraordinary generosity toward the campaign. Best known for his kindness and generosity, Les was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend who will be missed by all who knew him. In addition to his wife Katharine, he is survived by his son, David Ray and his wife, Debra of Essex, his daughter, Betsy Shelley and her husband, Brad of Wells, Maine, four grandchildren, Alex and Andrew Ray and Deanna and Jacqueline Gamache as well as three step grandsons Blake, Travis, and Drew Shelley. A funeral service will be held at the Brooksby Village Chapel at 303 Brooksby Village Drive in Peabody on November 10 at 1 pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will be private. Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly. Contributions may be made in his memory to the Perkins Home for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472 or the Greater Beverly YMCA, Philanthropy office, 245 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbell funeral.com.
Published in The Hamilton Chronicle from Nov. 2 to Nov. 13, 2018
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1929 - 2018 (89 years)
