Robert H. Ray

ATHOL- Robert Hyland Ray, 52, passed away on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Quabbin Valley Health Care in Athol.
Robert Hyland Ray, known as Bobby, was born on May 3, 1970, in Milford, MA., the youngest of three sons, to Richard and Patricia (Dooley) Ray. 
Bobby was educated in Newton and Athol schools and graduated with the Class of 1988 where he played football, ran track, and was a member of the Ski Club. He furthered his education at Mt. Wachusett Community College where he earned two degrees- one in Human Services and one in Criminal Justice of which we were all so very proud of him. He was also a graduate of the Citizen Police Academy run by the Athol Police Department in 1994 and volunteered as Security at Sober in the Sun events and was a sober member of AA for over 20 years. 
He worked in addiction and mental health programs in Worcester and Central MA. While living on Cape Cod, Bobby worked many years at Home Depot and later as an agronomist for Ocean's Edge Resort, and before suffering a TBI, he worked for Service Net caring for brain-injured patients. 
Besides his parents, he leaves two brothers, Richard Ray, Jr of New Salem, and Christopher Ray and his wife Cynthia of S. Deerfield. Also nephews Michael Ray and his wife Kelsey of Vermont, Zachary Gordon of New Jersey, nieces Jaqui Small and her husband James and family of Oxford and Kathryn (Ray) and husband Britt Parton and family of North Carolina as well as many program friends, cousins, and other relatives on his mother's biological side. 
He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents Ralph Hyland and Clara (Chaisson) Dooley and paternal grandparents William and Marjorie (Ray) Hayes. 
Due to the recent  surge in Covid cases there are no calling hours but a funeral Mass will be held in the future at Our Lady Immaculate Church where Bob volunteered at the Food Bank for 10 years.
Please remember Bobby for his beautiful blue eyes and gentle, caring manner before becoming ill. 
Thank you to all the caring staff and auxiliary help at Quabbin Valley Healthcare who all befriended him over this past year. 
Please consider any donations to the OLI Food Bank, 192 School St. Athol, MA, or the Athol High School Class of 1988 scholarship fund Main St. or a charity of one's choice. 
To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com
Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA is assisting with arrangements.
Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, Douglas M. Stone, and Melissa A. McQuaid, funeral directors.