Robert Ligon "Jolly" Ray from Pliny, West Virginia, formerly Spring Hill, passed away peacefully at Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston, WV. on Thursday, February 28, 2019.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Eileen Perry Ray, his beloved wife of 19 years Kathy Singleton Ray, brothers Manly Keith "Bunny" Ray, Ronald Samuel "Happy" Ray, Charles Edgar "Dick" Ray and sister Linda Ray Hannon.  He is survived by his devoted children, daughter Jolie Kristina Ray Holmes (John), John Kenneth Ray (Lisa), his grandsons Joseph Holden Bass (Jessie) and Robert Austin Bass, brothers Kenna Scott "Lucky" Ray (Lee), sisters Elizabeth Susie Hughes (Ronnie) and Evelyn Leona Ray, brother-in-law David Hannon, sisters-in-law Norma Ray and Nancy Ray, sons Gary Singleton (Amie), Jimmy Singleton and daughter Tonya Singleton Rutan (Chris), grandchildren Paige, Sawyer, Shana, Hunter and Huckleberry and an abundance of nieces and nephews whom he adored.  Jolly was a star athlete in his youth and excelled as a pitcher in baseball. He often recounted the mischief he and his brothers and sisters got into growing up with great delight. He got into just as much mischief as an adult which we all thoroughly enjoyed being a part of. He grew up in Spring Hill, West Virginia where he and the family all had a hand in managing Ray's Market, his father's family store. He joined the Coast Guard in 1960 where he served for 6 years and ranked E3 as a Boatswains Mate. During the Cuban Missile Crisis he served aboard the North Wind. His unit was honored with the Presidential Unit Citation for their bravery. After serving his country, Jolly entered into law enforcement which took him to Richmond, Virginia where he raised his family and continued his public service as a police officer until he retired.  Jolly was devoted to his family and cherished the closeness and dedication he shared with each of them. You could hear his laughter from a mile away and his smile was contagious. He loved to be in nature and enjoyed the solitude and peace of his own paradise on top of "the hill" in West Virginia. He was an avid reader and loved books about history and James Patterson novels especially. He was a magnificent artist and rendered many drawings of his surroundings and nature with pastels and pencil. He had an insatiable sweet tooth that he nurtured with his love of fruit and ice cream. Jolly lived life unapologetically. He was authentic and he expected the same in return. He was loyal and loved unconditionally. He never stood in the shadows. He was the sun. He is the mountain warrior.  A celebration of Jolly's life will be held on Thursday, March 7 at 11 AM at Bethel Baptist Church in South Charleston.