Mrs. Bonnie Jean O’Dell Ray, age 72, a resident of 53 Edgewood Drive, Chocowinity, NC died Wednesday morning July 17, 2013 at Vidant Beaufort Hospital.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday July 20, 2013 at the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington officiated by Rev. Sonny Browne. Burial will follow at Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Doug Grizzard, Floyd Sutton, Scott Smith, Laymon O’Dell, Jessie Dale and Ashley James Baker will serve as pallbearers.  Joseph Smith, Michael John Baker and Nathan Smith will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Mrs. Ray was born in VA on July 6, 1941, daughter of the late Laymon Lee Archie O’Dell and Ruby Lee Kidd O’Dell. On November 15, 1959 she married James Roland Ray who preceded her in death on February 25, 1995. She was co-owner and operator of the Go-Co station in Chocowinity.

She is survived by her daughters: Evelyn Ray Jackson of Chocowinity, Carolyn Jean Ray and partner Lindsay Tripp of Washington and Karen Ray Jochum and husband Marion Louie of Chocowinity; her son: James Michael Ray and partner Edward Lee Keeter of Greenville; her sisters: Brenda Gregory and husband Larry of Pulaski, VA; Janice Edmonds of Max Meadows, VA and Peggy Johnson and husband Jimmy of Dublin, VA.  She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jamie Rae Lozano, Meagan Leah Jochum and Nicholas Cole Jochum; great grandchildren: Luisa Lozano and Cristian Lozano; her sister-in-law: Ruby Lee O’Dell of Huntington, MD and her lifelong family friend: Doris Ferello Baker of Chocowinity. In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers: James Archie O’Dell and Billy Joe Stephens and her sisters: Mildred Oales and Lois Gayle Stephens.

The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 PM Friday at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 930-B Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC  27834.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Ray Family.