Edwin Wayne Ray (Wayne), 78, peacefully passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020 at his home in Germantown, Tennessee. He was born in 1941 in Rome, Mississippi to Amzia and Olera Sheffield Ray. Wayne graduated from Memphis Technical High School where he was voted Mr. Tech Class of 1961, ran track, played basketball, baseball, golf, and was wingback for the Tech High Yellowjackets football team.

Wayne attended First Wednesday with his fellow Yellowjackets and Coach Sivert until he was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. He loved spending time with his family, making bon vivant meals, Bob Dylans music, and the family Lakehouse in Greers Ferry, Arkansas. Never meeting a stranger, almost everyone was serenaded with a Dylan song, a W. C. Fields quote, or a joke to fit the occasion. He loved Staffordshire Bull Terriers and won several awards with his dog Elmo Lincoln at AKC sanctioned dog shows. He was a riveting storyteller, recounting family and childhood memories sprinkled with made-up words like pepper-jacked, shoe-spoonin, and side-jackin.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Carol Mandolini Ray; three sons: Lance (Dean) of Collierville, TN, and their three children, Brandon of Nashville, TN, Blake of Nashville, TN, and Sydney of Collierville, TN and her two sons, J.T. and Arlo; Anthony (Michelle) and their four children, Lilly, Jackson, Mary Emelia, and Shelby Joe of Germantown, TN; Alan (Elaine) and their two children, Alexandra and William of Elverson, PA; his daughter, Julie (Ziad) of Memphis, TN and San Francisco, CA; his brothers, Mack (Nelda) and Jimmy (Ruth); his sisters Lucy (Robert) and Linda (Neal); and many other family members and friends.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Amzia and Olera; his brother, Dick (Mary); and his sisters, Vivian (Gus), Barbara (John), Mary Nell (Harold), and Dulcie.

A graveside service will be held at Calvary Cemetery on Thursday, July 16 at 9:30 a.m. with a celebration of life to be scheduled in the fall.