Alma L. "Pete" Ray, 90, of Goreville, died at 1:15 p.m.  Thursday, June 24, 1999, at Marion Memorial Hospital.

    Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27, 1999, at the Goreville First Baptist Church with the Revs. Ron Ferguson, Ronald Null, and Gordon Lambert officiating.  Visitation will be after 5 p.m. today at the church.  Burial will be at Cana Cemetery, Goreville.  Masonic services will be held at the cemetery by Saline Masonic Lodge 339 AF&AM. Memorials to a scholarship fund of Goreville High School are preferred remembrance, envelopes will be available at the church.

    Meredith-Blue Funeral is in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Ray was born on May 21, 1909, at Goreville, to John Logan and Maude Jane (Craig) Ray.

    He married Blanche Kelley on Aug. 7, 1937 in Blytheville, Ark. and she survives. Other survivors incude sons and daughter-in-law, Max and Donna Ray of West Vienna and Ned and Karen Ray of Goreville;  daughter and son-in-law, Jo Ellen and Gordon Lambert of Marion;  grandchildren, John and Bridgett Ray of Tunnel Hill, Dan Lambert of Lexington, KY, Sam and Lauren Lambert of Louisville, KY, Sanna and Jay Rogers of Versailles, KY, Erica and Adam Long of Nashville, TN, and Jim Lambert of Marion;  great grandson, Max Nicolay Rogers of Versailles, KY;  two sisters, Alona Eastman of Goreville and Beatrice Downey of Manteno and several nieces and nephews.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Hester Hester and two infant sisters.

    Mr. Ray was a member of the Goreville First Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday School Teacher for 45 years.  He was a 50 year member of the Saline Masonic Lodge 339 AF&AM, a member of the Goreville Senior Citizens, Goreville Boosters Club and various Area Boards.

    In 1928 he placed first in the high school long jump in the State of Illinois and second in the high school long jump at the Nationals.  From 1929  to 1931 he was on the SIU Track Team.  The gym at Goreville has been named in honor of him and his family. Mr. Ray was a longtime Junior High Coach for Goreville and New Burnside.  He taught and coached at various county grade schools for 37 years, Goreville for 17 of them and the last 7 years he was principal and coach at New Burnside Grade School, he retired in 1969.