Obituary for Roy A. Dray
Roy Andrew Dray, 85
EAST LIVERPOOL – Roy Andrew Dray, of East Liverpool, passed away Tuesday morning, February 7, 2023, at the East Liverpool City Hospital. He was 85.
Born at home in East Liverpool, May 4, 1937, a son of the late Victor H. and Olive J. Dray. A graduate of East Liverpool High School, Class of 1955, he earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree from Youngstown University in 1967. He was licensed as a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. He held membership in the National Society of Professional Engineers, Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio. He also held membership in the Illuminating Engineering Society and the Society of American Military Engineers.
Directly out of high school, Roy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955 and served as Fire Control Technician Second Class. He re-enlisted in 1962 in the U.S. Navy Reserve for a second enlistment. He was a life member of Tin Can Sailors, Historical Naval Ships Association, and the USS LST 325 Ship Memorial.
Roy started working in the fifth grade after school for his uncle, James R. Jackson, at the Jackson Service Station, where he learned that “it was not enough to just do it, it had to be the best you could do” which became Roy’s pledge. While still in college, Roy worked at the A& P Supermarket as well as a junior electrical engineer at Crucible Steel. Prior to graduation, he was hired at Michael Baker, Jr., and became the assistant chief electrical engineer. From there, Roy worked at the following electrical contractors: Rawding Electric, Prothero Electric, Sargent Electric, and Blackhawk-Neff. He then accepted the role as chief electrical engineer for Mosure & Syrakis Consulting of Youngstown. Contacted by his long-time friend, Bert Dawson, Columbiana County Engineer, Roy accepted the role of Chief Engineer in charge of roads and bridges and the County Water & Sewer Department, from which he retired after 20 years. He continued to work on projects for the county engineer on an “as-needed” basis. Along with Bert Dawson and Commissioner Don Lowe, Roy was instrumental in starting the Southern Columbiana County Regional Water District which later became the Buckeye Water District, where he served many years on the Board of Directors. Roy also had his own company “Delta Engineering and Surveying” which kept him close to doing what he loved best. Throughout his lifetime, Roy volunteered his services on various projects in the local area.
Roy was a life member of the First Presbyterian Church/Trinity Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Trustee, member of the Thursday Night Work Group, and as a Boy Scout Troop Committee Member for Troop 12. He attended St. Ann Catholic Church for over twenty years and served on the Financial Committee. When St. Ann closed, he attended St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church where he participated on the Property Committee and served as the Charter Organization Representative for Cub Scout Pack 2043 until 2022. He was instrumental in the production of the Easter Pageant on the Hill where he participated as an actor and designed and maintained the set.
Hiking was a favorite relaxation of Roy’s. He held life memberships in the North Country Trail, the Appalachian Trail Conference, and the American Hiking Society. A benefactor member of the National Rifle Association, Golden Eagle, life member of the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association, the NRA Whittington Center Founders Club and the Whittington Center Founders Club and Trailblazers, Gun Owners of America, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the Second Amendment Foundation, a life member and Trophy Life Member in the North American Hunting Club; a member in the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Inc., and a member in the Case Collectors Club.
Roy was also a life member of the Public Employees, Inc. and Public Employees Retirees, Inc. and a life member in the Youngstown State University Alumni Society and the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association.
Roy was a life member of the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Ohio, East Liverpool Lodge No. 681, the Scottish Rite, Valley of Steubenville, and Al Koran Shriners, Pilgrim Commander 55 Knights Templar, the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio and Grand Council Royal and Select Masons of Ohio.
As a member of the Masonic Temple of the East Liverpool Building Committee, he was very active in the remodeling of the Temple, which consisted of installing an elevator and emergency power, completely upgrading the heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, and refurbishing the entire building. On February 3, the Temple presented Roy with a plaque proclaiming him Mason of the Year 2022.
His wife, Dolores Sutula-Dray, survives at home. The couple married January 25, 1985. He is also survived by two daughters Kathleen Dray-Muscari and her husband, Shawn, and Martha Dray-Board and her husband, Don, along with granddaughters Mara and Rylee Pine, grandsons Bryant Dray and Joseph Pine, and three great-grandchildren, Blaze, Phaedra and Odin.
Family and friends may visit Thursday afternoon and evening at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Rev. Eric Edwards will conduct a funeral service Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Columbiana County Memorial Park where the Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will conduct military honors.
Following the service, family and friends will gather at the church for fellowship.
EAST LIVERPOOL – Roy Andrew Dray, of East Liverpool, passed away Tuesday morning, February 7, 2023, at the East Liverpool City Hospital. He was 85.
Born at home in East Liverpool, May 4, 1937, a son of the late Victor H. and Olive J. Dray. A graduate of East Liverpool High School, Class of 1955, he earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree from Youngstown University in 1967. He was licensed as a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. He held membership in the National Society of Professional Engineers, Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio. He also held membership in the Illuminating Engineering Society and the Society of American Military Engineers.
Directly out of high school, Roy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955 and served as Fire Control Technician Second Class. He re-enlisted in 1962 in the U.S. Navy Reserve for a second enlistment. He was a life member of Tin Can Sailors, Historical Naval Ships Association, and the USS LST 325 Ship Memorial.
Roy started working in the fifth grade after school for his uncle, James R. Jackson, at the Jackson Service Station, where he learned that “it was not enough to just do it, it had to be the best you could do” which became Roy’s pledge. While still in college, Roy worked at the A& P Supermarket as well as a junior electrical engineer at Crucible Steel. Prior to graduation, he was hired at Michael Baker, Jr., and became the assistant chief electrical engineer. From there, Roy worked at the following electrical contractors: Rawding Electric, Prothero Electric, Sargent Electric, and Blackhawk-Neff. He then accepted the role as chief electrical engineer for Mosure & Syrakis Consulting of Youngstown. Contacted by his long-time friend, Bert Dawson, Columbiana County Engineer, Roy accepted the role of Chief Engineer in charge of roads and bridges and the County Water & Sewer Department, from which he retired after 20 years. He continued to work on projects for the county engineer on an “as-needed” basis. Along with Bert Dawson and Commissioner Don Lowe, Roy was instrumental in starting the Southern Columbiana County Regional Water District which later became the Buckeye Water District, where he served many years on the Board of Directors. Roy also had his own company “Delta Engineering and Surveying” which kept him close to doing what he loved best. Throughout his lifetime, Roy volunteered his services on various projects in the local area.
Roy was a life member of the First Presbyterian Church/Trinity Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Trustee, member of the Thursday Night Work Group, and as a Boy Scout Troop Committee Member for Troop 12. He attended St. Ann Catholic Church for over twenty years and served on the Financial Committee. When St. Ann closed, he attended St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church where he participated on the Property Committee and served as the Charter Organization Representative for Cub Scout Pack 2043 until 2022. He was instrumental in the production of the Easter Pageant on the Hill where he participated as an actor and designed and maintained the set.
Hiking was a favorite relaxation of Roy’s. He held life memberships in the North Country Trail, the Appalachian Trail Conference, and the American Hiking Society. A benefactor member of the National Rifle Association, Golden Eagle, life member of the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association, the NRA Whittington Center Founders Club and the Whittington Center Founders Club and Trailblazers, Gun Owners of America, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the Second Amendment Foundation, a life member and Trophy Life Member in the North American Hunting Club; a member in the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Inc., and a member in the Case Collectors Club.
Roy was also a life member of the Public Employees, Inc. and Public Employees Retirees, Inc. and a life member in the Youngstown State University Alumni Society and the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association.
Roy was a life member of the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Ohio, East Liverpool Lodge No. 681, the Scottish Rite, Valley of Steubenville, and Al Koran Shriners, Pilgrim Commander 55 Knights Templar, the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio and Grand Council Royal and Select Masons of Ohio.
As a member of the Masonic Temple of the East Liverpool Building Committee, he was very active in the remodeling of the Temple, which consisted of installing an elevator and emergency power, completely upgrading the heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, and refurbishing the entire building. On February 3, the Temple presented Roy with a plaque proclaiming him Mason of the Year 2022.
His wife, Dolores Sutula-Dray, survives at home. The couple married January 25, 1985. He is also survived by two daughters Kathleen Dray-Muscari and her husband, Shawn, and Martha Dray-Board and her husband, Don, along with granddaughters Mara and Rylee Pine, grandsons Bryant Dray and Joseph Pine, and three great-grandchildren, Blaze, Phaedra and Odin.
Family and friends may visit Thursday afternoon and evening at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Rev. Eric Edwards will conduct a funeral service Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Columbiana County Memorial Park where the Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will conduct military honors.
Following the service, family and friends will gather at the church for fellowship.