Fund Est. 2001
April 30, 1941 to November 6, 2002
Don loved life and lived it fully. As devoted as he was to his business and civic activities, he was even more devoted to family and friends throughout his life. Married to Louise in 1966, Donald ‘Don’ Ray and Louise had one daughter, Chastity, and one grandson, Payton.
Don’s personal story is one of an Adams County farm boy who lived the American dream. He blended hard work, courage and creative energy into a successful business. The Don Ray Drive-A-Way Company, a delivery service of motor homes, began with a single office in Decatur in 1974. Their business grew to include offices in Bristol, IN and in Pennsylvania, Arizona, California, and serves a large number of shippers in forty-nine states and Canada.
Don’s determination to succeed extended to an equal devotion to community causes as well as spiritual, fraternal and patriotic causes. Don gave generously to youth groups. Among his favorites were the Boys and Girls’ Club of Adams County and the Monroe Youth League. His donation of land to the town of Monroe for a baseball field has been appropriately named, "The Don Ray Memorial Park."
It is because of their love for their husband and father, the Donald ‘Don’ Ray Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Don’s wife and daughter. This scholarship is awarded each year to a North Adams graduating senior.