When I think about Chris Ray - by Caleb Pearson

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When I think about Chris Ray, I think about that goofy grin and all of the hilarious memories that he left us with. Behind that goofy grin, everyone knew there was a smart remark or some clever hilarious comment sure to come. Also, above that goofy grin was usually some out of the ordinary hat sitting amusingly on his head. Whether he had the infamous drunken captain’s hat on his head, or the undescribable straw hat he always wore on the beach, he always had that grin. Sitting here thinking about what to write, I have laughed out loud reminiscing about some of the old memories of him. There was just never a dull moment around Ray, and that is why everyone cherished him
I will never forget some of the funny memories that we all were so fortunate to share with Ray. I can think of infinite funny images of Ray that I will never forget. I can still see him now catching waves at the beach with a natty light can in one hand and that goofy hat on giving his sweet gnarley sign with his other hand. Or also him doing his “funky chicken remix” dance on the porch. He had this special way about him that made everyone laugh hysterically.
One thing I loved most about Chris was that he was the imitation king. He had this special knack for picking out distinct traits and tendencies that everyone had. He could imitate ANYONE with perfection, and have you laughing so hard about it that your abs would ache the next day. It is due to his impersonations that all of us talk the way we do when we are describing a story about one another. He was also the king of nicknames. We all have decided that he was the root of every single one of our nicknames. Whether it is Torpedo (Peter) Porter, Cookie Bain, Bunkins, Boose Ballard, 87, Buzz, Thwack, Tmack, Deever, J Butter, Been, Minute, Boob, Bulla, Kelvin, Hambone, Boney, and many more that I’m sure I’m forgetting.
Ray and I always had this little “John got mad” joke, where we would sit back and tap each other when John was heated about something. However, Ray always seemed to be able to foresee John getting mad about something well-before it happened. I will never forget the time when Davis Rose brought this mojo duck decoy into what John had described as possibly being the hunt of a lifetime. After John repeatedly told Davis not to bring the decoy into the duck hole, Davis still did. While they were walking ahead of Ray and I, Ray leaned over and whispered, “Caleb, watch how mad Johns going to get when this decoy ruins the hunt!” And to no surprise, Ray was right. Hundreds of ducks circled that hole that day and at most three decided to come in because of Davis’ handicapped mojo decoy. Ray kept looking at me grinning ear to ear after each group of ducks would almost come in and quickly turn back after seeing the decoy. We could just see the steam coming out of John’s ears, and Ray and I always found it funny to sit back and watch John’s temper flare. At the end of the hunt, John and Davis went through their routine verbal abuse of each other while Ray and I sat in amazement. After every clever comment made by either of the two, Ray would indiscreetly tap me with his foot or elbow with eagerness to hear the furious comebacks. Then on the trip home, just like after every time we ever got to witness the wrath of John, Ray would always come up with the FUNNIEST smart aleck remarks that would both add fuel to the fire but make John and I laugh uncontrollably. He always had this special knack for bringing light to bad situations. His comments that day were something like, “hey John, you think Davis’ decoy helped?” and “John, it’s no big deal it was only ten thousand ducks coming in!”
Ray seemed to look at everything in the most positive way possible. I will never forget the time, about two years ago, when I walked into Ray and John’s apartment at Radford almost in tears because I was going through a hard time. John and Ray are two that don’t except sadness in their apartment I quickly found out. Ray was the first person to sit me down and tell me, “Little Pearson, if you just go through life carefree like me, then you’ll never have anything to be sad about.” This seemed like a foreign idea to me; however I went with that advice for a little while and realized that Ray might be right! He then quickly introduced me to the ever so famous Fighting Cock whiskey which he was so well known for and said, “here ya go little Pearson, this is another little something that’ll fix anything.” Need not say more, that night turned out alright!

Everything Ray did was funny from the way he acted on our eventful beach trips(where Ray, being the only non-mongrel of the group, was the only person to not be part of a physical altercation that week) to even the way he turned double plays for SA baseball (haha all of his friends know the joke behind that one). Some of his funniest moments were him sitting in the end zone of the Raider football field (Bronco lights on high beam), cheering “obnoxiously” as John so perfectly put it. I will never forget running toward the end zone and Ray doing one of his custom made provocative dance moves behind the field goal post. Before I could even reach the end zone, he had me laughing hysterically. One thing that none of us will EVER forget is how proud Ray was of his ducktape chair that he so eloquently rigged at Myrtle beach during “fight week.” Every morning by eleven o’clock that week, Ray (sitting in his ducktape masterpiece) and Tyson would be out on the beach soaking up the sun, knocking down the beers. By the time everyone else got out there by around 1, the two of them already had good stories and imitations of every odd tourist they had seen that morning.
These are all some of my most memorable moments of Ray. However, just as everyone has said before me, every moment with Ray was a positive memory. He just always knew how to take any ordinary experience and turn it into a day to remember. I will always cherish my time I got to spend with him, and also the lessons I learned from his life.
Ray, I think about you with each and every day that passes and wish with all my heart that I could bring you back here with us. Life down here will never be the same without you around, but you left a great mark on my life. I love you man and know you’re in a better place. I also know that you are up there making everyone smile just as you did with us. Save us all a spot up there and keep a watch over us. You are already so dearly missed and hopefully the group will be reunited soon!

Christopher's Personal Statement - from Anne Ray

I was looking through my computer files for examples of personal statements for my seniors who are in the process of applying to schools. I came across Christopher's essay that he wrote for his college applications. I think a great fishing day on the Nottoway would probably be Chris's idea of heaven, and I hope that's just what he has found. The last two months have been a time for me to re-examine my faith. I'm not sure about anything, but I do know that Chris loved life, especially outdoor activities and being with his friends. I hope to write more later about my beloved child, but I thought maybe you would enjoy reading something that he wrote about five years ago.

The River -- My Home Away from Home

Move over, Huckleberry Finn! Like the famous fictional character I too have traveled "on the river". I have been very lucky in my life. I have grown up in a house that is closer than a mile away from the Nottoway River. Ever since I can remember I have been at the river. This river has been my main source for fishing, hunting, swimming, and social gatherings. I spend more time on the river than on any other activity.

I know every hole, stump, and sandbar in our stretch of river. This is because I grew up on this river. I started out with a Jon boat full of holes and a 1966 outboard motor. I began to fish everyday. It was my life and I loved it. Once my parents saw my love for fishing they decided to help me find a boat. My granddad had a twelve-foot Jon boat that he said I could have. So he loaded the boat up in the backup his pickup and brought it 450 miles from Georgia to me. I still use this same boat almost everyday.

I am for now and for all time a very avid fisherman. Even in the dead of winter I go fishing on the river. As I have grown so had my boat. I took a regular Jon boat and changed it into it into a well-oiled fishing machine. I have invested over a thousand self-earned dollars into my boat and I keep improving it. I have now officially become the fishing pro in my family. Now I am trying to spread my knowledge and enthusiasm to my younger brother and his friends.

Robert Frost says, "My object in living is to unite my avocation and my vocation as my two eyes make one in sight." To me, being able to work outdoors near a river would bring joy throughout my life. Whatever career path I take, I am sure to take many river journeys along the way. Radford's proximity to the New River as well as to an abundance of creeks and fishing holes appeals to the Huck Finn within me. With a river so close to school, I just might be able to stay "civilized" for four years.

Many Memories - by Robbie Ballard

I went to SA starting in kindergarten but I really remember Ray and his class starting in about the 3rd grade. When it came to break time my class would play football or kickball against the grade above us and Ray's class. I recall John and Ray doing this thing where thier whole class would run the bases when a person kicked that way there was know we could win. It was pretty funny to watch though. Once we got into middle school we all wanted to play football and we had to put our names on the helmets. I put "Da Bus" on mine because in lower school someone had said I was running over people like a bus when we played football at break. Little did I know that "Da Bus" would turn into what it did. I went out to practice my first day and Ray and John were giving me a hard time for it, all in good fun. Ray and John were like, "What does that say, Boose or something?" It was pretty funny when it happened and that made getting to know the people on the team easier because everyone knew me as Boose then. I learned from them if you can't laugh at yourself you are always going to be up tight and worried, so THANKS RAY for teaching me to laugh more. It was hard not to do around Ray. Without Ray and John there never would have been a Boose.

Ray and I played football and alot of baseball together throughout school. There are so many memories I have of him and they are all great. Ray looked out for his friends and family and was a great guy. Thanks for EVERYTHING Ray, the fishing tips(even though you never would say where you catch them all at), the jokes, and especially the friendship.

by Tyson McClenny

Ever since the site went up I’ve been trying to put together a little something that would tell a few of my favorite stories and reflect on some of my fondest memories with/of Ray. Right when I think I’ve summed up a couple of the thousand memories I have, another great memory pops into my head and puts me almost right back at step one. Like I’ve started out before, I can’t stop reiterating on the concept that if there’s one thing Chris did better than anyone else it was his inapt ability to look on bright side no matter what and make sure there was never a dull moment. Although I’ve got my own, I know we all have our memories of Chris that we won’t ever be able to forget, whether it was him executing one of his practical jokes, lightning the mood of a tense crowd (like he did so well), or just lending a helping hand to someone he barely knew.

I’d never really grown up hunting or fishing, but in the last few years Chris had asked me to come along with him a couple of times and I’d begun to develop a real fondness of the outdoors. Ray had found a new interest in bridge fishing if we didn’t feel like putting the boat in or the river wasn’t suitable for fishing. There was many an evening when we would head out right around dusk and bridge fish. Ray would always give me the best spot to fish on that bridge, but hardly ever did that translate into who caught the most fish. He always pulled in more than I did, that’s if he didn’t tangle up his newest glow in the dark bobber on the overhanging power line. He taught me 110% more about hunting and fishing than I ever knew and I hate that he won’t be here to fill me in anymore but I do know what he taught me I only hope I’ll be able to pass on. It will be impossible not to think about him for a minute come this deer season. We were really looking forward to the little time he’d be able to get off from the academy come this fall/winter. I’ll never forget that first buck of his we all tracked that night at Windy Hill (after he’d almost missed it all because he was listening to his ipod and had to shoot with his left hand, but who finds this surprising?!?!), all while JBB was telling him he better have fatally wounded that thing. Then there was the night we stayed out on the river fighting thunderstorms and hellacious mosquitoes, but like usual with him we did come back with some decent catfish. I’m sure all of us have countless memories just like mine but we will never forget the times spent fishing and hunting where even if we didn’t catch or shoot anything we sure had a damn good time because of Chris.

Some of my greatest memories were the times I would pull random surprises on Ray and John just by showing up without saying anything to join in on the countless memories that were undoubtedly in store. The most recent trip was definitely the most memorable. I was sitting at work miserable in my cubicle when I decided it was time to leave the job and head to the beach unannounced with Ray and all the guys for a week I knew no one would forget (they were all that way). Mom was a little upset and Anne Ray said I was stupid, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t give up to do it all again. I’ll never forget those six days spent sitting on the beach laughing, drinking, and living it up from the countless impersonations of the “Barksdales”, the Darius Rucker concert, the walk to the concert, our “signature” dance moves that countless people stole at the concert, to our “signature” dance moves that no one stole at Port O’ Call, the ferocious(ha) shark we caught and wanted to make a trophy piece but the “locals” decided for us it was better to throw back, the elevator we really didn’t break that week, the 16 year old girls that wanted you to buy them beer and never believed you wouldn’t do it because you were a cop, that wind blown skirt, the “I’m going to bed…” speech, your true alias… “Rack ‘Em” Ray chugging Malibu, drinking at the traditional surfing spot every time a fellow surfer went down, Kevin’s Horserace card game that Ray brought to life, “Mother Trucker” and “Aunty Scotty”…and I could sit here and keep going and going. Man, we really did have that much fun together.

Remember, you’re only young once so live free, and enjoy life for all it has to offer. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. Live without regret. If there’s one thing we knew and lived by that was it. The random college roadtrips, beach trips, fishing trips, weekend getaways, and summer vacations will never be forgotten nor will the memories created ever disappear but your spirit will surely carry on and I know if God’s plan was to take you away this early then each and every one of us couldn’t have asked for a better guardian angel upstairs to look down on all of us.

Then there was the time John and I had the pleasure of painting Ray’s “potment” in Capron and man…did we have fun with it. After working long, hot, countless hours John and I had finished and somehow we had missed quite a few spots and as Ray would say “John’s painting was smot, isn’t even a few smeared marks everywhere”, but I’m sure he said the same to John about my bedroom and living room painting. Chris being the type of guy he was made these types of situations funny to all of us. He fueled my comedic fire and I’m unquestionably now, a flame short.

Ray knew I didn’t have the most strenuous of jobs and he always would ask if I wanted to hang out after work, keep in mind this was usually after he got off at midnight. He was always ready to share a story and chill. I’d always be over there Sunday night to watch Entourage and if I wasn’t he’d DVR it with his sweet new Dish Network he loved. We were really looking forward to grabbing Direct Ticket when the NFL season rolled around so we could watch all the NFL games. I really miss those nights and won’t ever be able to stop thinking about what the future might have held with a true friend like Ray, but I know God has his plan and we’re all blessed to have one another to help cope.

Each day I wake up with half a feeling that he’ll be right back but then the other half of me knows he is gone. There are some people who can leave a life lasting impression on someone with only a 5 minute conversation and Ray was one of them. I could always go to him with a problem and even though the two of us might not be able to solve it, we could definitely make light of it, joke about it, have a beer and forget whatever was bothering us in that moment and that is a gift that very few possess. None the less, I know Ray sent that dog (Darby) to Cameron because he had given him hell about wanting to get a Golden Retriever, but I also have an inclination he sent it to me also as a message that as soon as he got up there he found Moonpie.

No matter what I say I don’t feel like my own words can adequately express my true feelings for someone so close to all of us. Like I’ve said before this song seems to say everything I could say into a couple of verses…

“My old friend, this song's for you

Cause a few simple verses

Was the least that I could do

To tell the world that you were here

Cause the love and the laughter

Will live on long after

All of the sadness and the tears

We'll meet again, my old friend”

-Tim McGraw “My Old Friend”

Over the last couple of days I have tried so hard to find a handful of stories that would exemplify his life and what he meant to all of us but the problem is that every moment spent with Ray was a story in itself. And I know I share this belief with a lot of others who knew Ray so well. No matter the circumstances, he made every person around him happier just by his presence alone. Many people can go a lifetime and not have as good/close of a friend as we all had in Chris. He was the funniest person a lot of us ever knew and the best friend any man could ask for. Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget. Although Chris is gone, I think each of us can honestly say that we have something that he has left us with that we can hold on to and pass on to our next generation.

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I love you man, you’ll never be forgotten.

The Rookie - By Deputy Sheriff Donald Edwards

I remember when Chris did his internship at the Sheriff's Office. He was assigned to ride with me the majority of the time he was there. When I first met him we clicked right off which made things a lot easier for both of us. Even though there was a difference in age it was like we were brothers. That first summer I exposed him to a variety of things-- he got to see an exorcism, nudist community, and a lot of other things. Chris talked about going into the Coast Guard but I knew deep down he was going to be a Law Enforcement Officer. I just knew... When I found out that he was coming to work with us I was certainly glad of it.. I laughed to myself and said "I knew it, I knew it." I had the honor of being his FTO and we had a lot of fun together. I remember he had bought this little flashlight and I asked him "What the hell are you going to do with that?" We both laughed.. I took him to Parker Battery and showed him what light he needed and he bought it..He was so excited and I was excited for him. He reminded me of how I was when I was a rookie (by the way that's what we called him). Chris brought a lot of happiness and energy to work with him and that has made me into a better person.. I miss you buddy very much but I know you are right there watching over each of us.