Jim Ray

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jim Ray of Tucson, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Saturday, June 12, 2021. He was born Aug. 25, 1947.

Jim was one of those rare people who used the totality of his life experiences to benefit the lives of others. He was a man whose faith was forged in the darkest moments of alcoholism and addiction. A man who lived his redemption from of an early life of poor decisions and self sabotage by boldly sharing his story and helping hundreds of others break the bonds of addiction.

Jim was direct and transparent. His stories are legendary among those who knew him best. He was deeply compassionate, a life-time learner who was fueled by his desire to find better ways to help those struggling with self-destructive habits.

"How's that working for you, kid?" was a typical greeting from Jim when first meeting someone in the throes of addiction. But Jim didn't just help; he genuinely changed lives.

Armed with a master's degree in counseling from Northwest Missouri State University and an unyielding belief in God's ability to redeem, Jim took his early experiences of working hard in the corn fields of his family farm and his love for adventure (becoming a money-winning pool player) into the battlefield of working with addicted people. He became director of the Family Counseling Center (FCC) in Cape Girardeau, where he helped set record levels of recovery. Incorporating many of his own recovery techniques, Jim believed that faith in God and belief in one's self were critical to recovery. Jim took those at FCC to community, music and sporting events and would often have a few rows of guests with him at church on Sunday.

Jim was a mentor, friend, counselor, adopted dad and inspiration to the hundreds of women who met him at FCC. But to his three daughters, Sheri, Kathleen and Elizabeth, he was more. He was their favorite story teller, encourager, God seeker and proud daddy. Jim and his wife, Janet, have spent the last nine years sharing life and laughter, and for eight years enjoying the adventures of retirement in the desert of Tucson.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janet Ray of Oklahoma; daughter, Sheri Yates, and son-in-law, Tracy, and grandchildren, Spencer, Chandler, and Kennedi of Oklahma; daughter, Kathleen, and son-in-law, Taylor Hildenbrand; daughter, Elizabeth Ray; and sister, Mary Ray Adams of Birmingham, Alabama; many "adopted" daughters from FCC; and cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James W. and Harriet Ray; sister, Dorothy, and brother-in-law, Leroy King.

Please join the family in celebrating Jim's life at 1 p.m. today at Laura Street Baptist Church in Maryville. Final rest will immediately follow at Nodaway Memorial Gardens.

Flowers may be sent to Price Funeral Home in Maryville, or donations may be made to "Donations" at FCC Behavioral Health, 925 State Highway V.V., Kennett, MO 63857. But the best way to honor Jim's life is if you would surrender your own life to God, who sent his only Son not to condemn you, but to save you.