Elaine Grace Ray

Elaine Grace (Peacock) Ray, affectionately known as "Tootsie", passed away on May 15, 2023. Tootsie was surrounded by her loving family after a very brief illness as she entered the arms of the Lord and was reunited with her husband Clare.
Elaine was born on January 12, 1940, in Detroit to Edward A. Peacock II and Doris I. (Sipley) Peacock. As a young girl, she spent every summer vacationing Up North until 1955 when her parents decided to purchase a farm in the Bates Road area of Williamsburg. Elaine was a "city girl" until she moved here and then wholeheartedly embraced her life as an "ole farm gal." She attended Traverse City Central High School where she quickly caught the attention of Clare A. Ray, Sr. They fell in love and were married on October 20, 1956, in Traverse City at the Pine Grove Church of God. They both graduated in the class of 1957.
Elaine and Clare shared the next 65 years before Clare passed away in 2022. Elaine is survived by their three children and families. Son Clare Ray, Jr. (Susan Hemmes); granddaughter Samantha Kaiser (Paul), great-grandson Braylen Kaiser and great-granddaughter Zaila Kaiser; grandson Brendon Ray (Jessica Meloche), great-grandsons Aiden, Colton, and Carson Ray. Son Mark Ray (Gina Alpers), granddaughter Dr. Bailey Ray (John Kure), grandsons Brady and Broderick "Brody" Ray. Daughter Pamela Mervau (Wayne "Merv"), grandson Adam (Whitney Ayers) Mervau, great-grandson Fisher Mervau and great-granddaughter Bryer Mervau, and grandson Matthew Mervau, and her brother James Peacock (Joan).
Elaine was a determined, strong woman who took on any new task to perfection in her beloved roles as a wife, mom, and grandma. Above all she was a student of life and if she wanted to learn it she put her mind to it and did it. There weren't many things she couldn't sew – everything from underwear to wedding dresses to curtains and much more. As her great-grandson Fisher said, "Just take it to Tootsie, she'll fix it!" The sound of her old faithful Singer sewing machine was a constant noise in the house. She especially enjoyed quilting in the last few years and her family has been blessed with many of her masterpieces that were made with Tootsie's love.
She first learned how to cook on a wood range stove which was just the beginning of the innumerable meals she lovingly prepared with and for her family. She was well known for the homemade bread she made every Wednesday. She pickled, canned, and preserved the bounties of the large garden she and Clare grew every year. Her family will cherish the recipes she passed down for chicken rollers, apple pie, bread, pickles, and many, many more. Clare and Elaine also grew 10 acres of U-pick raspberries on the family farm settled in 1884, Barker Creek Farms. She loved working with the whole family to make apple cider and donuts in the Fall and maple syrup in the spring.
Elaine embraced being a mom as not many else could. She was always there to listen, guide, direct, and teach her family. It was when she became a grandma that she took the given title of "Tootsie" and she loved that more than anything. Tootsie and Clare (Papa) enjoyed attending her grandchildren's many activities – no matter what the weather or sport. She was always proud of her children and equally proud of her grandchildren and looked forward to many more great-grandchildren!
Tootsie and Papa enjoyed camping in their RV and traveling the countryside from Alaska to Newfoundland, Canada, and the UP for fishing trips with family and friends. They enjoyed cruising the Caribbean, snowmobiling in Yellowstone, house boating in the Boundary of Waters of Minnesota, and any historic village they came upon.
Her only job outside of the house was to work at Bertha Vos school in Acme as the school librarian. She enjoyed setting up and starting the library as a volunteer and eventually, she was employed as a "media aide" for TCAPS schools until 1981. In 1984, when Clare co-founded CRM with their son Mark, she helped wherever she was needed to get it up and running. When Clare retired in 2007, she said his job stopped but hers was the same, to make the household run smoothly, and boy, did she do it well!
She attended Williamsburg Methodist Church and had a very strong faith in God. She would always say "Everything happens for a reason and we may not understand it, but God has a plan for us, and he is in control." With her sudden passing, we will hold on to this faith and know we all will miss her every day. We take comfort knowing she's now dancing with Papa in heaven again!
Tootsie's life will be celebrated at the funeral on Sunday, May 21st at 11:00 am with visitation beginning at 10:00 am at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A luncheon will follow at the same location. Visitation will also be held Saturday night, May 20th, from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. She will be interned at the Acme Cemetery in a private service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Michigan in honor of the care they gave Clare for which Tootsie was forever grateful.