Charles "Charley" Ray

Charles “Charley” D. Ray, 77 of Aurora, passed away at his home on January 6, 2025 with his loving family by his side.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 14 at 2 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Home with Dan Naranjo officiating. The services will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.  A visitation will be held one hour prior.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. All floral arrangements are suggested to go through Brenda & Co. Floral in Hastings, where a portion of the proceeds will go back to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.
Charley was born on September 20, 1947 in Dyer, TN to Donald Ray and Mary (Smith) Leonard. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a Demolition Specialist.  He enlisted when he was only 17 years-old, and after his discharge he was drafted and returned to Vietnam. Charley was united in marriage to Terri, and to this union Natasha, Curtis, and Andrea were born.
Charley was a Lead Supervisor at a meat packing plant, he broke horses and worked in auto body repair. He enjoyed cars, boxing, animals, taking care of his garden, playing pool and poker. His greatest pride and joy was his family and spending time with his grandkids teaching them life lessons.   He had a way of always making people smile with a joke or just being goofy and he was a wonderful story teller.  Charley will be remembered for being a “ladies’ man” and being very hard-headed, but also incredibly loved.
He is survived by his children, Natasha Kolbet, Curtis (Ashley) Ray, Andrea (Nathan) Hatcher, Ronnie Dale Ray and Mitzi Mohr; grandchildren, Jonathan, Josh, Jasmine, Madalyn, Jayleigh, Cooper, Gabriel, Ashlyn, Lilyauna, Grayson, Liam, Axel and Remmorie; great-grandchildren, Adalynn, Penelope, Fletcher and Braxton and siblings, Lucky, Suzie and Jackie.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, Devon; father, Donald and mother and step-father, Mary and Bubba Leonard.