Obituary for Mr. Merwin J. Ray Merwin J. Ray died peacefully on September 17, 2018 in Naples, Florida, surrounded by his wife and children. He was 89. Mr. Ray was born on February 15, 1929 in Champion, Ohio.
He was the son of Leslie and Jennie (Lewis) Ray. After serving in the Korean War in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, Mr. Ray returned home to attend The Ohio State University. He remained a lifelong Buckeyes fan.
He began his career in the steel industry at age 25 with Shenango Steel, and from there moved to Worthington Steel in Columbus, Ohio, rising to the position of executive vice president. In 1971, Mr. Ray founded Southern Strip Steel, now known as Steel Technologies, LLC, believing that there was a future in the specialty steel market. Steel Technologies today is one of the largest steel processing companies in the country with 2,000 employees.
He retired from his position as CEO and Chairman in 2002 but remained active on the board until 2007 and will always hold the title of Founding Chairman. Mr. Ray was an icon of the steel industry who managed by forging relationships. As a result, he was loved by his employees, respected by the industry, and highly regarded by partners from the US to Japan to Mexico.
Steel Technologies’ success today is a mirrored reflection of its founder. Mr. Ray was an avid hunter and fisherman and a lifelong member of Ducks Unlimited. He founded the Merwin J. Ray Trap, Skeet & Sporting Clay Range in Eminence, Kentucky so employees and thousands of others could enjoy the shooting sports.
He was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2004. He was a founding member of the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville and a member of Bay Colony Club and the Pelican Bay Club in Naples. He was a member of St. William Catholic Church in Naples and St. Patrick Catholic Church in Louisville.
Mr. Ray is survived by his loving wife, Julieanne McConnell Ray, his five children: Heidi (Mark) Gregg of Shelbyville, KY, Bradford (Stacey) Ray of Louisville, Stuart (Michele) Ray of Anchorage, KY, Kristin Ray of Atlanta, and Kara Brown of Charleston, SC, and sixteen grandchildren: Tiffany Bonkofsky, Lindsay (Michael) Olges, Blake Bonkofsky, Matthew (Anna) Carroll, Kyle Ray, Samantha (Scott) Kelsey, Randall Ray, Shelby Ray, Jordan (Benjamin) Van Cleave, Mackenzie (Austin) Hundley, Shae Gregg, Carter Gregg, Henry Brown, Olivia Ray, George Brown, and Parker Ray. He also leaves nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Wilfred and Nelson, and his daughter, Leslie Carroll.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 PM on Friday, September 21 at the Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road in Middletown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, September 22 at St. Patrick Church, 1000 N. Beckley Station Road, Louisville with burial to follow in Cave Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.
jdrf.org or Ducks Unlimited at www. ducks.org. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. Merwin J. Ray please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Visitation , SEP 21. 04:00 PM – 08:00 PM Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home – East Louisville 12900 Shelbyville Road Louisville, KY, US, 40243 admin@rattermans.com www. rattermanbrothers.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Merwin’s Visitation begins.
Funeral Mass , SEP 22. 10:00 AM St. Patrick Catholic Church 1000 N. Beckley Station Road Louisville, KY, US, 40245 ourparish@stpatrick-lou.org www. stpatrick-lou.org Order Flowers for the Funeral Mass Guaranteed delivery before Merwin’s Funeral Mass begins.
Cemetery Details Cave Hill 701 Baxter Ave.
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