Louise Mae (Vieke) Ray

Louise Mae Ray, 86, of Kokomo, passed away at her daughter’s home at 1:11pm on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born December 25, 1936, in Vincennes, to Walter A. and Frances S. (Welton) Vieke.  On November 3, 1956, she married Lawrence Joseph “Joe” Ray, in Vincennes, and he preceded her in death on April 19, 2018.

Louise graduated from St. Rose Academy in Vincennes in 1954.  She was a devoted wife and homemaker and had also worked at Mildred’s Flower Shop and Hook’s Drug Store.  Louise was a crafty person, and she enjoyed decorating for the holidays, doing crossword puzzles, going shopping, taking vacations and going to garage sales.  Her family was her life, and she cherished spending time with them, especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters, Lisa Liston (Jim), Shelly Miller, and Susan Ray (Tammy Russell); brothers, Walter Vieke Jr. (Linda) and Joe Vieke (Norma); sister, Margaret Sparenberg; grandchildren, Kristy Craig, Mike Miller (Amy), Joey Miller, Carter Craig, Isabella, Annabelle, and Charlotte Miller; one estranged daughter; and several other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by infant son, Michael; son, Jeff; grandsons, Eddie Williams and Mark Craig; sister, Mary Faulkner; and several in-laws.

The family would like to give special thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Kathy Prien, Rita Thompson, Melissa Sholty, and Staci Bitner, and most of all, a heartfelt thank you to Tammy Russell and Laney Jones whose compassion, care and selflessness made it possible for us to take care of her at home. The family would also like to extend thanks to the nurses of Elara Caring and the nurses of Paradigm palliative and hospice care. She will be missed beyond belief.

Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, with Fr. Christopher Shocklee officiating.  Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery.  Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.  Contributions may be made to Shirley & Stout Funeral Home to assist with final expenses.  Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.