Arthur Ray (1899 - 1979)

Born 12 Dec 1899 in Johnstown, PA

Ancestors

Died 22 Jan 1979 at age 79 in Pittsburgh, PA

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Biography

ARTHUR RAY: born December 12, 1899, Johnstown PA. "Art" stayed on at Girard for approximately two years after Clarence died. When he was about 16 years old and time to return home, a college representative went to Johnstown to ascertain where Art could go. His mother Laura had remarried to Will Mennett and the stepfather wouldn't take Art in. The representative didn't think living conditions were very good there anyway and went to the grandmother, Mrs. Mary M Schrimser; she could provide a satisfactory home and accepted him. Art went to work in the steel mill. Near the Schrimsers lived a Mrs. Deviney who was raising her niece Katherine "Kate" (last name not identified; one source shows Catherine M.) born July 13, 1902; died May 1985. Art and Kate met and married. At this point it would be sufficient to say they relocated and lived out their lives in Pittsburgh, but these tidbits to the story are interesting: Mrs. Deviney was married and had several children. A boarder living with the family was in actuality Mrs. Deviney's boyfriend. Rather than break up the family, they all stayed together under one roof. The clan moved to the Homestead area of Pittsburgh. Art and Kate followed, had their own place and began their family. However, Art gave his wages to Mrs. Deviney each pay day and she managed the house for them. Kate had a metal plate in her head as a result of an accident in her early years which 'probably was the cause of her severe headaches.' Kate sent the children to the store daily to purchase 'headache powder' which she mixed with soda and drank. Art lied about his age and served in the US Army in WW1 (service dates: April 17, 1917-August 2, 1919, Pvt. 1 st Class. He was a machinist steel worker but it has been suggested that at some time he was employed as a Technical Manual Writer for the Army. An interesting turn of events: Remember his stepfather Will Mennett had refused to take Art in when he was a teenager? Years later when Will couldn't find employment in Johnstown, he went to Pittsburgh and worked in the steel mills there - and Art took him in, providing a roof over his head. Kate predeceased Art; he died January 22, 1979 and buried in Allegheny Cemetery on Butler Street in Pittsburgh. (Records reflect residence in Verona, PA) In a telephone call to his sister Pearl Ray Barbour he said he was 'going into a hospital for a brain operation, not to worry, Rays never die, they live a long time.' Pearl said she never heard from him again nor learned what happened to him. Art and Kate had at least four children:

Sources

• Ancestry.com