Ray Pettit

PERKINS, Mo. -- Ray Dean Pettit, 72, of Perkins passed away Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 12, 1941, in Messler, Mo., to Thomas T. and Juanita A. Kennedy Pettit. He and Emma Rosetta Dunn Spane were married Sept. 20, 2007.

Ray attended school in Perkins and Bell City, Mo.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 23, 1962, and was honorably discharged June 28, 1965.

Ray previously worked for the railroad, General Motors in Michigan, and retired from Unilever in Sikeston, Mo. He was a former member of Perkins Volunteer Fire Department.

Loving survivors include his wife, Emma Rosetta Pettit of Oran, Mo.; a daughter, Kelly Jean Pettit of Scott City; two grandchildren, Josh Petitt of Scott City and Sara Jean Petitt of Cape Girardeau; a stepdaughter, Diana Dees of Cape Girardeau; two stepgrandchildren, Misty (Philip) Wilhite and Ginger (Eric) Hanselman; four great-grandchildren, Mattison Cline, Paige Wilhite, Anna and Georgia Hanselman; three sisters, Norma Lois Phegley of Fenton, Mich., Shelby Jean Sutherland of Swartz Creek, Mich., and Betty Jo Stearnes of Cape Girardeau; and a brother, Donald Eugene Pettit of Perkins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Joseph and Jerry Pettit.

A graveside memorial service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Williams Cemetery in Perkins, with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to a church or charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.