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!