Marguerite “Candi” Ray

Marguerite Ray – known as “Candi” to friends and family – passed away in the early morning of March 9, 2018, at Carolina Village in Hendersonville, two months short of her 97th birthday. She remained engaged and alert till the end.

Candi filled her life with adventure and beauty. She grew up in Florida in her large family who remained important to her throughout her life. She enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE during World War II and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. She met her husband, Bob, while at graduate school on the G.I. Bill, where they shared their love of flying. Candi was a licensed pilot, and Bob had been a flight instructor in the Navy and had his own small airplane. Together, they lived in eight different countries in four continents while raising a family of three children. She was known by friends and family for her love of music, literature and art, and painted and sketched throughout her travels. One of her paintings was bought by the president of Guatemala during their time there. In 1958, she was active in creating an elementary school, “The Mayan School” in Guatemala, still running today as Colegio Maya. While living in Switzerland, she served as editor of the American Women’s Club monthly magazine.
Candi is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob) Ray, who is also at Carolina Village; her three children, Carol, Peggy and Steven; and four grandchildren, Ryan, Anika, Kate and Lucas.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at the Carolina Village Hall on Friday, March 16, 2018 at 2pm, 600 Carolina Village Avenue, Hendersonville, NC 28792.