Charles Ray Ash was born on Monday, February 14, 1938, in Briar, Texas and went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the age of 86 years and 11 days in San Angelo, Texas.

From his immediate family, he was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Robert Ash of Kermit, Chloe Ailene Ash of Aledo, and brother Donald Wayne Ash of Wimberly.   He is survived by his wife, Rita Lou Ash of San Angelo, brother, Larry Dale Ash of Aledo, and his wife Kala. He is also survived by his three sons, Allan Ray Ash and wife Tammy of Denton, Texas; David Greg Ash and wife Allison of Lubbock, Texas; and Corey Don Ash and wife Cathy of Georgetown, Texas. He and Rita Lou Ash were married in Kermit, Texas on May 30, 1958. They were married for 65 years and 9 months. In addition to their three sons, Ray and Rita have ten grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, five of which carry the name Ray or Rae as their middle name.

Known by his friends and church members as 'Brother Ray', he surrendered to the call of ministry as a sophomore in Kermit High School. After graduation from KHS as a letterman in Basketball and Band, he graduated from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas in 1960 with a Bachelor of Theology. He was later on the Board of Trustees and an active HPU alumnus for many years.  He went on to graduate with a Master of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1962. While either serving as associate pastor or music minister for several churches during his educational years, immediately following graduation from SWBTS, he received a call to be the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lawn, Texas, and served there from 1965-1968. He then served as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Brady, Texas from 1968-1989. In 1989 after all 3 children had graduated from Brady High School, Ray and Rita were called to serve as missionaries and traveled to the mission field of Nigeria, Africa and were there until 1994. After returning to the states, Ray served as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Mason, Texas from 1994-2000 and concluded his ministry duties serving as Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Voca, Texas from 2000-2022. He and Rita moved to San Angelo, Texas in 2022 and resided at the Baptist Retirement Community, where he had served as a board member some 40 years earlier. In 2016, he was the honoree at a surprise ceremony honoring him as a distinguished alumnus of Howard Payne University with 60 years of continuous Chrisitan ministry. He continued until 2022 where he finished with 68 years in the active ministry.

There are many ways to describe someone in the ministry. Some say Pastor, some Preacher, some Counselor and friend, and some All Of The Above. "Brother Ray Ash" was an All Of The Above kind of man. Upon his passing, his children found a 'Bible study' that he was working on laid on his desk on the book of Galatians.   In addition to the open Bible, there were 6 other open study guides and concordance reference books.     He had just started on page 17 of his handwritten notes. 'Poppie Ray' as all his grandchildren called him, always felt like there was something new to learn from God's word, and Loved to Share that message with anyone he would meet.  In his last months, anytime he would see someone in public, he would ask," Can I share something with you really quick if you have a minute?" and would then share an insight he had recently gleaned from the book of Matthew about a message on Grace and Forgiveness.  It is the family's prayer today, that you can know this kind of peace and forgiveness in your life and can walk with the Lord like 'Brother Ray' did for so many faithful years.

The family is having a private interment and has scheduled a public Celebration of Life service on Sunday afternoon, March 10, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church in Mason, Texas.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests any donations be made in Memory of Ray Ash to the Liberty Baptist Church, P.O. Box 89, Voca, Texas 76887.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net