Ray H.Early Jr. LAGRANGE-Ray Harmon Early Jr.,56,of 4000 Drew Farmer Road,died Thursday,Sept.9,2004,at Lenoir Memorial Hospital.Ray served with the N.C. Highway Patrol from 1971 through 1997 retiring as a line sergeant.For the last six years he has worked with the Lenoir County Sheriff's Department.Prior to joing the Highway Patrol,Ray served with the Greenville Police Department.Ray was a member of Southwood Memorial Christian Church where he was chairman of the board.He was currently serving as elder,Sunday school teacher,chairman of the new construction committee and previously served as deacon.He was a 33rd Degree Mason and was past master and currently serving as secretary for Richard Caswell Masonic Lodge No. 705.Ray was master of 32nd Degree Team of Scottish Rite Temple,Valley of New Bern,and was a member of the Advisory Council of Scottish Rite.Ray was president of the Lenoir-Greene-Jones Law Enforcement Association and was a certified instructor in crim- inal justice.Ray was a member of the Lenoir County Tuesday Morning Rotary Club and served on the Safe Kids Coalition Board.Ray was very involved with Boy Scouts of America where he was an Eagle Scout,past scoutmaster and was presently serving as scout executive for Southwood Memorial Christian Church.Ray was preceded in death by his father,Ray Harmon Early Sr.Funeral services will be held at 3p.m. Sunday,Sept.12,at the Lenoir County Per- forming Arts Center at Kinston High School with the Rev.Rick Vernon officiating.Burial will follow in Pinelawn Memorial Park.Ray is survived by his wife of 21 years,Diane Bryan Early:daughter Ginger Taylor and husband Ron,of Kinston;son,Tray Early of Kinston;stepson Brad Griffin and wife,Kathryn,of LaGrange;granddaughter,Raychel Elizabeth Taylor;mother, Phyllis Early of Ahoskie;brother Bill Early of Aulander;and his family pet,Abby.The fam- ily will receive friends from 4 to 4 p.m. Saturday,Sept.11,at Southwood Memorial Christian Church and other times at the home.
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