D. Ray Wilson

D. Ray Wilson, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 12, 2017, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born June 6, 1935, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Odis V. and Arless M. Hendrickson Wilson. He and Eva Nell Ward were married Sept. 2, 1956, at Little Rock.

He served nine years in the National Guard.

Ray received a Bachelor of Music Education from Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas, in Conway and a master's degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

He was a high-school band director for 10 years in Campbell and Salem, Missouri, and worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for 38 years with the Missouri Department of Education Vocational Rehabilitation Division. He was a member of the Missouri Rehabilitation Association.

He was a member and an ordained deacon at Bethany Baptist Church. He was a Boy Scout leader with Troop 2 at Grace United Methodist Church.

Ray was a lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment, and he was a life member of the National Rifle Association.

While in Campbell, he formed a jazz band called Ray Wilson and the Starlighters.

Survivors include his wife, Eva Nell Wilson of Cape Girardeau; son, Donald N. (Sarah) Wilson of Cape Girardeau; daughter, Sandra Johnson of Jonesville, North Carolina; two sisters, Caroline Hamilton of Springdale, Arkansas, and Deborah Short of Little Rock; and eight grandchildren, Angel, John, Anthony, Katarina, Samantha, Alexis, Dominick and Johnathan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Robert Henry Wilson.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Shawn Wasson officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.