Joseph “Joe” R. Ray, 64 of Zanesville and formerly of Colo., passed away Friday afternoon Sept. 29, 2023, at his residence.
Joe graduated high school in 1977 from Lakewood High school. He then attended and graduated from the Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City, Okla. He began his career in California at the EMT tower. He then worked in Long Beach, Calif. at the LBG tower. He moved to Seattle, Wash., and worked at the BFI tower there and lastly landed in Aurora, Colo. working at the Stapleton tower, which became DIA where he was in the DEN tower for the rest of his career. He worked as an air traffic controller for 32 years and 4 months from Aug. 24, 1982 to Jan. 21, 2014. Joe became a pilot for Express Jet at the age of 55 in 2014, then worked at SkyWest as a pilot and trainer until 2023. His hobbies were all thing aviation and he loved using his ham radio. Joe loved to travel and has been all over the U.S. in his R.V. in the last 14 years with his wife Melissa and three dogs Tango, Finnegan and his beloved beagle Wilbur. He was adventurous and spontaneous, as he didn’t like to plan ahead. “Just go and find a place to park it.”
Joe was born on March 14, 1959, in Long Beach, Calif., a son of the late William C. and Dorothy I. (Norris) Ray.
He was united in marriage to Mary Melissa Jackson on June 4, 2009. Melissa survives.
Additional survivors include three sons: Cody Ray and Andy Ray of Denver, Colo., and Jeffery Ray currently in Guam; a daughter: Katie Ray of Denver; two grandchildren, Cecelia Marie Ray and Ren Betty Ray of Denver; and a brother, Dick Ray of Angola.
He was preceded in death by his Parents and two brothers: David Ray and Bill Ray.
A celebration of life will take place at a later time in Colorado.
Preferred Memorials are to the donor’s choice, sent in care to Myers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 403, Markle, IN 46770.
To sign Joe’s online guest registry log onto
www.myersfuneralhomes.com and scroll down to obituaries.