George Rae 1850-1926

RAE, RAY, MITCHELL, BAGAN, IHDE, DOCK, CLELAND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/9/2012 at 22:18:28

George Ray Passed Away at Jasper, Minn.
Father of Mrs. W.E. Bagen, of This City – Was Well Known to Estherville People
Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Bagen and family were at Jasper, Minn., last week attending the funeral of Mrs. Bagen’s father, George Ray, who passed away Wednesday, June 2nd, at 2:00 o’clock after an illness of many months. Mr. Ray began to complain of ill health about Christmas time last year and was then put under the doctor’s care. In March he went to Rochester to consult the doctors there. They advised him what to do and he followed their advise closely. He gradually grew weaker, however and finally could no longer fight to keep his health. Mr. Ray was known and liked all over the city of Jasper as well as placed near there. The great respect and admiration which he commanded was evidenced by the large attendance at the funeral services as well as the huge floral offerings. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in January, 1850. When a young man he came to this country and settled in Canada. He remained there for a few years and then returned to Scotland where he was married to Miss Anne Mitchell. He came back to this country and a year later his wife came here and they started their home here. Forty years ago they located at Jasper, Minn., where Mr. Ray opened the first stone quarry in that part of the country. He followed in this line of business until his health began to fail and then he entered the mercantile business, which profession he engaged in at the time of his death. His wife passed away in January, 1924. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ray, five of whom survive their parents. They are Mrs. W.E. Bagen, of this city, George Ray, Mrs. Fritz Ihde and Mrs. Elizabeth Dock, of Jasper, and Mrs. E.W. Cleland, of Hazel, So. Dak. There are also twelve grandchildren. All were present at the funeral. Mr. Ray had visited at the home of his daughter in this city several times and became very well known to local people. Everyone who knew him liked and admired him. He had such a dominating personality that it was impossible for him to have any enemies. He was a friend to everyone and everyone was his friend. As one of the pioneers in Jasper, he knew what it was like to go through trials and hardships but these only strengthened him and made him a bigger and better man. Funeral services were held in that city and people came for many miles to attend it. The church was filled to capacity and people were lined outside for blocks anxious to pay their last tribute to this worthy old man, who had helped so many of them. The many friend of the Bagan family in this city will extend them their sympathy in their hours of bereavement and sorrow. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, June 9, 1926)