Kevin Banks Ray

On February 11th, Kevin Banks Ray slipped the surly bonds of Earth, passing into the heavenly realm, to touch the face of God. Surrounded by his family and dearest friends, Donna and Marvin Moser, he passed peacefully surrounded in love at his Anchorage, Alaska home. Kevin, 65, born in Burnsville, North Carolina, grew up on the family apple orchard and farm, where he started his driving career at age 9, while his father sprayed the crops from the back. He saved his nickels from each bushel of apples picked to buy gas to drive the family farm truck. This experience served him well when he moved to Alaska at age 18 in 1974, supporting his family by working as a Teamster Truck Driver on the Trans Alaska Pipeline, working at each pump station between Deadhorse and Valdez. Kevin continued his exemplary driving career as an ice road trucker on the North Slope's Arctic oil fields, construction, and on Amchitka Island on the Aleutian Chain. After working for 17 years with Allied Transport, transporting vehicles from the Port of Alaska, Kevin knew every mile post and frost heave between Fairbanks and Homer. He retired after 33 years driving for Teamsters Local 959. In 1979, Kevin’s wife and daughter joined him in Anchorage to visit for a few months, never returning to North Carolina. They built a life in Alaska through hard work and dogged determination. They spent a couple winter months each year traveling and visiting family. Their favorite adventures included hiking in Alaska and Sedona, Arizona. They enjoyed several Caribbean cruises, visits to Hawaii, and driving cross country and up the Pacific Coast Highway. Everyone’s favorite memories of Kevin were fishing in Alaskan waters. Kevin captained fishing adventures out of Deep Creek, Anchor Point, Homer, Whittier, and Seward. Friends and family cherish memories of dipnetting on the Kenai River and Copper River filling their freezers with salmon for the long Winters. Kevin, known for his smile, warmth, and kindness will be missed by all. Kevin, after his 7-month battle with lung cancer, joined his Heavenly Father and those who passed before him, including his father, Horace Daniel Ray Jr. Left to cherish their memories are his loving wife, Rebecca Thomas Ray; daughter and son-in-law, Shena and Raymond Marcil of Anchorage, Alaska. He is also survived by his mother, Ellen Banks Hensley, brother Horace Daniel “Danny" Ray III and wife Tonya Allen Ray of Burnsville, NC. Sister-in-law Shirley and husband James Curtis of Clyde, NC. Sister in-law Judy and husband Bill Cullum of Shelby, NC. Kevin has cousins, who love him like their brother, 5 nieces and nephew he treasured, and a great niece and 3 great nephews he wished to know better. A graveside service will occur at the Ray-Silvers Cemetery in Burnsville, North Carolina at a date to later be determined. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society.