Obituary of Nell Waldroop Ray

FRANKLIN - Nell Waldroop Ray died on July 4, 2022. Nell was born in Franklin, North Carolina on October 5, 1932, the daughter of the late Charles A. and Kate Setser Waldroop. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1950 and attended Blanton Business School in Asheville, NC. She met her husband, Charles while working at Biltmore Forest Country Club. They resided in Fletcher, NC for the rest of their happily married lives. Nell continued her business career working at Northwestern Bank and Fletcher Motor Company.

Nell’s great love, other than Charles and their home, was cooking for her extended family especially at Christmas when she and Charles would host a party for the nieces, nephew and all their children. Aunt Nell’s Christmas Party (and coconut cake) remain a favorite family memory. Nell was an adventurer at heart enjoying traveling with Charles. After his death, she continued her adventures once rafting the Nantahala River, taking a hot air balloon ride, traveling to New Orleans to hear jazz on Bourbon Street and sailing off Peaks Island, Maine.

Nell is survived by nieces, Kathy Tinsley (Dan) and Christine Slagle (Robert Martin); stepsister Martha Rickman; stepbrothers Lonnie, Sam and Mark Crawford; great nieces Angela Tinsley Cash, Mary Rae Ruchti, and Katie Martin; and great nephews Bryan Tinsley, Carl Slagle, Jake Slagle, and Sam Ruchti.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. Ray; sister Nina Rae Waldroop Slagle; brother-in-law Siler Slagle; and nephew Al Slagle.

Her graveside service and burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 16, 2022, at West Memorial Park, 40 Roberts Street, Weaverville.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in her memory.

For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Nell’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.