Estella Ray

Funeral services for Estella Ray, age 100 of Toledo, Ohio and formerly of Algood, will be held on Sunday, August 2nd at 4:00 p.m. from the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Mrs. Ray's family will receive friends Saturday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday from 3 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Estella Christine Ray, known as "Aunt Stella," was born in Putnam County, Tennessee on October 10, 1914. She attended Officers Chapel United Methodist Church (now known as Officers Chapel Community Church). She was also a member of the Algood Senior Community. A graduate of Pearl High School in Nashville, Tennessee, Aunt Stella eventually moved to Detroit to seek employment. She returned to Algood in 1946 and was a loving and devoted caregiver for her mother, father, brother, her aunt "Aunt Emma" who passed at age 106 and was known as Putnam County's oldest citizen. After her health began to fail in 2008, she moved to Toledo, Ohio, where she resided with her niece, Helen until her health required her to be moved to the Comfort Care facility in Sylvania, Ohio. "Aunt Stella" passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in Sylvania, OH at the age of 100. As the strong matriarch of the family, all who searched for history and truth about life in Middle Tennessee sought out "Aunt Stella." She loved gardening, canning and cooking and shared these gifts with others. Those who knew her could find a meal on her stove and a seat at her table. Her doors were always open. Aunt Stella was preceded in death by her mother Mattie Officer Ray, father Brice Ray, siblings Lonnie Ray, Blanche Ray (Sumner), Samuel J. Ray, Thurmond Ray, and AB Ray. Aunt Stella is survived by two nephews and four nieces: Charles (Melinda) Sumner, Samuel J. Ray (Shirley), Mattie Daniels (Joe), Ellen B. Swann (Hezekiah), Helen C. Cooks (James), and Beatrice L. Quarles (Leon); a number of great nieces and nephews: Teresa (Sumner); Samuel R., Rodney, Terell (Ray); Donald, Andre (Ballard); Thomas, Margaret (Sumner); Hezekiah E., Delisa, Angela, Derrick, Renee (Swann); Michielle, Michael, Myron, Melvin, Hope (Cooks); Antoine, Dezerai (Quarles) and dozens of great, great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a host of friends and extended family in the Algood and Cookeville area, particularly her loving cousin Jack Ray and good friend Jeanete Taulbee. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements—hhhfunerals.com 931-526-6111.