1917
Ray
2010
Ray Summerlin
July 30, 1917 — July 9, 2010
O. R. (Ray) Summerlin, 92, of Selma, Alabama, died at his home on July 9, 2010 after a five month battle with cancer.
Ray was born July 30, 1917 in Covington County, Alabama. He was the eldest of the four children of Claude and Esther Summerlin.
He graduated from Straughn High School in 1934. He completed a night school business course and was hired by Taylor Parts Store in Andalusia, Alabama. With this opportunity, Ray found not just a ���job,��� but, as it turned out, a ���calling!��� He was a PART���S MAN! From then until he retired in 1997, he worked for and then owned automotive parts stores in Mobile, Andalusia, Brewton and finally Selma. He bought Day Motor Supply in Selma in 1957. For nearly 40 years he was the beloved ���boss��� running a thriving business, employing as many as 10 to 12 employees, some of them remained lifelong friends. Ray Summerlin loved the parts business!
In the summer of 1938, Ray experienced an acute attack of appendicitis which resulted in a meeting that changed his life: the nurse on duty at Andalusia Hospital when he was brought in was Jennie Carol Lowman. Three months later their wedding launched a sixty-two year adventure, a romantic adventure, that lives on in the minds and hearts of their daughters, grandsons and great grandchildren. Ray lost Jennie in 1996 which was also the year he was forced to begin divesting himself of his business. His eyesight was failing due to macular degeneration.
But in the midst of all this loss, Ray���s optimism and his self-description as a ���very fortunate man��� prevailed, when he fell in love for the second time in his life. His love for Mary Lou Lumpkin and their courtship was the light of his life for thirteen years; filled with travel, shared family, companionship and socializing that centered around their Elk���s Club friends and their church. Mary Lou���s devotion to Ray and his love for her was an inspiration to all who knew them.
Ray was a lifetime member of the Elk's Club and served as a trustee for many years. He enjoyed the companionship of his friends at Vaughn Wellness Center - the exercising and walking three times a week - but the best part was the daily ritual of the coffee time with his good friends afterwards. Fishing was a lifetime passion for Ray and his good friend Ferrell Carter made sure that he got to go fishing whenever he could. He was a member of the Quarterback Club and was enthusiastically at all their programs and dinners. He was naturally social and truly enjoyed time over the years with his many friends. The was especially valued after his surgery when his Men's Sunday School members were regular visitors, brightening his last months.
Uncle Ray or Daddy Ray were names that many related and unrelated children called him. For their first three years in Selma, Ray and Jennie were house parents at the Methodist Children's Home. He was an advocate for children throughout his life. He was a man of great patience, sly humor and a heart that was truly kind. He was fun to hang out with because of his innate curiosity and love of learning. Finding the gift even in difficulty, he freely admitted to being a more interesting person from listening to endless Books on Tape after becoming sight impaired. He was a man of natural dignity and was always respectful towards others. This respect was returned to him in great measure and he was held in highest regard by all who knew him and truly loved by all who knew him well. Friends described him as a "true gentleman." He will be greatly missed.
In his family of origin, Ray is survived by his brother, Gerald (Lena) Summerlin, Melbourne, FL; his sister, Hilda (William) Goodson and his brother, Claude (Marcia) Summerlin, Jr., Andalusia, AL. He is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Esther Summerlin.
Ray is survived by his two daughters, Patricia Summerlin, Kula, HI and Michelle Annis, Selma, AL; three grandsons, Thad (Juliana Ellman) Ziolkowski, Brooklyn, NY; Jason (Camila Vianna) Burke, Cave Junction, OR; Emery (Mary Thirsk) Annis, Houston, TX. He leaves four great grandchildren: Teo Ziolkowski; and Koa, Zadi and Bela Burke. He is preceded in death by his late wife Jennie and his grandson Adam.
Donations to AsceraCare Hospice in Ray's name would be a tribute to the compassionate care, love and support during his long illness. His caretakers became his friends and brightened his last days.
Pallbearers: Thad Ziolkowski, Jason Burke, Emery Annis, Ferrell Carter, Jerry Harrison, John Lide and Joe Hamilton.
Flowers may be sent to Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home, Monday, July 12, 2010 from 6 - 8 PM A Celebration of Life will be held at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 13, 11:00 AM. Graveside Services will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery.
Ray was born July 30, 1917 in Covington County, Alabama. He was the eldest of the four children of Claude and Esther Summerlin.
He graduated from Straughn High School in 1934. He completed a night school business course and was hired by Taylor Parts Store in Andalusia, Alabama. With this opportunity, Ray found not just a ���job,��� but, as it turned out, a ���calling!��� He was a PART���S MAN! From then until he retired in 1997, he worked for and then owned automotive parts stores in Mobile, Andalusia, Brewton and finally Selma. He bought Day Motor Supply in Selma in 1957. For nearly 40 years he was the beloved ���boss��� running a thriving business, employing as many as 10 to 12 employees, some of them remained lifelong friends. Ray Summerlin loved the parts business!
In the summer of 1938, Ray experienced an acute attack of appendicitis which resulted in a meeting that changed his life: the nurse on duty at Andalusia Hospital when he was brought in was Jennie Carol Lowman. Three months later their wedding launched a sixty-two year adventure, a romantic adventure, that lives on in the minds and hearts of their daughters, grandsons and great grandchildren. Ray lost Jennie in 1996 which was also the year he was forced to begin divesting himself of his business. His eyesight was failing due to macular degeneration.
But in the midst of all this loss, Ray���s optimism and his self-description as a ���very fortunate man��� prevailed, when he fell in love for the second time in his life. His love for Mary Lou Lumpkin and their courtship was the light of his life for thirteen years; filled with travel, shared family, companionship and socializing that centered around their Elk���s Club friends and their church. Mary Lou���s devotion to Ray and his love for her was an inspiration to all who knew them.
Ray was a lifetime member of the Elk's Club and served as a trustee for many years. He enjoyed the companionship of his friends at Vaughn Wellness Center - the exercising and walking three times a week - but the best part was the daily ritual of the coffee time with his good friends afterwards. Fishing was a lifetime passion for Ray and his good friend Ferrell Carter made sure that he got to go fishing whenever he could. He was a member of the Quarterback Club and was enthusiastically at all their programs and dinners. He was naturally social and truly enjoyed time over the years with his many friends. The was especially valued after his surgery when his Men's Sunday School members were regular visitors, brightening his last months.
Uncle Ray or Daddy Ray were names that many related and unrelated children called him. For their first three years in Selma, Ray and Jennie were house parents at the Methodist Children's Home. He was an advocate for children throughout his life. He was a man of great patience, sly humor and a heart that was truly kind. He was fun to hang out with because of his innate curiosity and love of learning. Finding the gift even in difficulty, he freely admitted to being a more interesting person from listening to endless Books on Tape after becoming sight impaired. He was a man of natural dignity and was always respectful towards others. This respect was returned to him in great measure and he was held in highest regard by all who knew him and truly loved by all who knew him well. Friends described him as a "true gentleman." He will be greatly missed.
In his family of origin, Ray is survived by his brother, Gerald (Lena) Summerlin, Melbourne, FL; his sister, Hilda (William) Goodson and his brother, Claude (Marcia) Summerlin, Jr., Andalusia, AL. He is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Esther Summerlin.
Ray is survived by his two daughters, Patricia Summerlin, Kula, HI and Michelle Annis, Selma, AL; three grandsons, Thad (Juliana Ellman) Ziolkowski, Brooklyn, NY; Jason (Camila Vianna) Burke, Cave Junction, OR; Emery (Mary Thirsk) Annis, Houston, TX. He leaves four great grandchildren: Teo Ziolkowski; and Koa, Zadi and Bela Burke. He is preceded in death by his late wife Jennie and his grandson Adam.
Donations to AsceraCare Hospice in Ray's name would be a tribute to the compassionate care, love and support during his long illness. His caretakers became his friends and brightened his last days.
Pallbearers: Thad Ziolkowski, Jason Burke, Emery Annis, Ferrell Carter, Jerry Harrison, John Lide and Joe Hamilton.
Flowers may be sent to Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home, Monday, July 12, 2010 from 6 - 8 PM A Celebration of Life will be held at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 13, 11:00 AM. Graveside Services will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ray Summerlin, please visit our flower store.