Ray Mobley

Thomas Ray Mobley passed away Thursday, March 5, 2013 at his residence. He was born October 21, 1925 in Tennessee Ridge, TN. son of the late Clifford R. Mobley and Myrtle Williams Mobley. He was preceded in death by his parents and son Anthony (Tony) Mobley. A celebration of his life will be 2pm Friday at Nave Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Beverly Dycus and Rev. Denise Settle officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30pm until 8pm Thursday and from 8am until service time Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Summers Cemetery with Military honors. Ray attended the Tennessee Ridge Elementary School and Houston County High School. At the young age of seventeen Ray withdrew from Houston County School to join the Navy. As a Seaman First Class, Ray received the Victory Medal, serving with distinction as a gunner in the Atlantic Theater, Pacific Theater, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and the Persian Gulf. His duties carried him to Australia, New Zealand, India, Ceylon, Yemen, Iran, Japan, China, Egypt, and Madagascar. In 1946 Ray received an honorable discharge and returned to Tennessee Ridge. Upon his return from the War, Ray completed his high school education and went on to attend George Peabody College, (now part of Vanderbilt University) where he received his B.S. degree. After graduating from George Peabody Ray returned to Houston County and taught business and typing at Houston County High School. After teaching for two years he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and soon became part owner of Mobley Brothers Grocery. Ray stayed in the grocery business for forty years, he retired in 1994.At the age of twenty-one Ray became a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. Ray served as Commissioner on the Houston County Court for over twenty years. During his term several significant building projects were undertaken and completed; The Court House, Erin Elementary School, (now the middle school), and the old Houston County jail, commonly referred to as “The Jail on the Hill”. As a commissioner, Ray served on the airport and finance committee and as Judge Pro Tem for one term. In 1960 Ray was appointed Business Manager for the City of Tennessee Ridge; in 1962 he was Chairman of the Federal Housing Committee. Ray was a member of the Five River organization and a member of the Stewart-Houston Industrial Committee. In 2003 Ray received the O.S. Luton Emerald Award. In 2007 Ray was recognized for his outstanding loyalty and service to Houston County by being named Lord High Mayor. Ray is a member of Tennessee Ridge United Methodist Church. He served as Sunday School Superintendent for several years. For faithful service to his church, Ray was presented the Church’s Service Award. Ray resided with his wife of 59 years, Marie in Tennessee Ridge; they have one daughter, Lisa, and son Tony, deceased. Tony has one son Danny Ray Mobley. Lisa is married to Kevin Carter and currently resides in Madison Mississippi. Kevin and Lisa have four children; Kelly Carter Billings of Cookeville Tennessee, Kasey Carter, of Knoxville Tennessee, Krissy Carter, of Cookeville Tennessee, and Kevin Carter Jr., (KJ) of Cookeville Tennessee, one great grandchild Anthony Ray Mobley. Pallbearers will be Kevin Carter, Ronnie Arens, K.J. Carter, Danny Ray Mobley, Donnavon Vasek, Harry Hurt, and Matt Billings. Online condolences can be made at www.navefuneralhomes.com