Rick Lee Ray

January 26, 1962 - March 31, 2022

On Thursday, March 31, 2022 Rick Ray, 60, passed away at Georgetown Medical Center, Washington, DC of lung failure. Rick was born on January 26, 1962 in Laurel, MD, where he grew up and attended Laurel High School. Rick started work at an early age as a Lot Attendant for the Herb Gordon Automotive Group. After graduation from Steamfitters School, he worked as a Pneumatic Control Engineer under Steamfitter Local 602 for many years on buildings in and around Washington, DC including the National Institutes of Health, the White House, and more. Employers included Landis & Gyr and Siemens. For the last 12 years, Rick worked at Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC where it was described that “He leaves a long trail of great accomplishments in some of the most well-known, world class museums on the face of the planet.” Rick’s passions were being at the ocean collecting his shells, and working on/showing his beloved Monte Carlo show car with which he won an amazing array of trophies, including Best in Show in the Ocean City, Maryland annual car show. He was an avid NASCAR fan and collected memorabilia – particularly of Dale Earnhart. Rick was an animal lover and had multiple beloved cats and dogs over the years. He also spent many days fishing and tending his gardens. The thing that he was the most proud of in life was his son, Jesse. Rick was preceded in death by his father, Richard, and his mother, Shirley of Laurel, MD. He is survived by his son Jesse Ray (wife Lauren), granddaughter Riley Magnolia Allison Ray, girlfriend Lynne Reardon-Bridges, brother Brian Ray (Michelle), Elkridge, MD; sister Brenda DellaValle (Richard) Mount Airy, MD; brother Alan Ray, Laurel, MD; sister Jennifer Solley (Matthew), Moyock, NC, 3 nieces and 8 nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2022 – 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Lasting Tributes, 814 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD, with a service taking place at 1:30 pm. Donations in Rick’s honor can be made to the Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne’s County (awlqac.org), or your local Humane Society.