Richard "Dick" L. Bray
June 29, 1935 — October 4, 2016
Richard L. “Dick” Bray, age 81, at rest on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Dick is survived by life partner, Heidi M. Ruggles; son, Kevin Bray; daughters, Debbie Rutten, Kathy D’Arcy, Cindy Bray-Milliron, Celeste Wadlow, Christina Maria Bray, and Adelina Miranda Monroy; along with twenty-eight grandchildren; twenty-seven great grandchildren; and sister, Barbara Merkel.
Preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Eva Bray; and son, Rick Bray.
Dick was a former member of the First United Methodist Church in Wilmington, IL and Moose Lodge 300, Joliet IL.
After graduating from Wilmington High School in the class of ‘54, he worked in construction & carpentry and later started a successful used car business in ‘68. He moved to TX in ’71 to begin a new career in resort property real estate sales & development. ‘Dick’, as he was known to family and friends, returned to Illinois in ’89 and owned & operated a local chain of retail mattress sales stores as well as owning a home repair handy man business. Beginning in ’98, he co-owned & managed a residential investment property business with his long time life partner, Heidi M. Ruggles.
A Celebration of Dick’s life will begin on Thursday, October 13, 2016 with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 12:00 p.m. at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Rd, Joliet, IL 60435. Per Dick’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded.