Obituary

Raymond “Ray” Francis Holden III of Peculiar, MO., 77 passed away December 23, 2019 at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.  Ray was born December 7, 1942 in St. Louis, MO. to Dr. Raymond F. Holden Jr. and Gertude (Kies) Holden. Ray was the youngest of three children.

Ray graduated from Wichita Southeast high school in 1961, then went on to attend Olivet College in Olivet, MI and Wichita State University in Kansas.  Ray worked as a salesman and business owner for over 40 years.  After working in the consumer electronics industry for a number of years, he formed several small businesses revolving around the construction industry.

Ray had a passion for boating and celebrating, often entertaining others at his home.  Ray loved his family and was generous to many around him. His interest in boating lead him to be certified as a United States Power Squadron Offshore Navigator while living in Grove, OK.  He then went on to earn his United States of America Merchant Mariner credentials in January 2018 in Rockport, TX while he restored a boat in preparation for a trip around the Great Loop.  He had just moved onto the boat and nearly finished restoration when his health declined.

Survivors include his sister, Rebecca (David) Deckard of Wichita KS, his sister in law Linda Holden of Bellevue, MI., two sons, Ray Holden IV (Jill) of Peculiar, MO and Tim Holden of Plain City, OH., two grandchildren Ray Holden V of Warrensburg, MO. and Ruby Holden of Plain City, OH., nieces, Bridget McLean of the UK, Dr. Amy Sprole of Wichita, KS and Allison McLean of Lincoln, RI. and nephew Jeffrey Holden of Bellevue, MI. In addition, Ray has two step grandchildren, Brandon (Andrea) Wright of Raymore, Mo., and Taylor (Sarah) Williams of Lees Summit, Mo., two step great grandchildren, Savannah and Liam Wright also of Raymore, MO.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Philip Holden.