Jo Anne Green Ray

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May 12th, 2018

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Death Date: May 12, 2018

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Biography: Jo Anne Green Ray was born on June 19,1935, in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Trudie Elizabeth and Robert Earl Green. She lived in Mankato, Minnesota, and Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, before moving at the age of 11 to Minneapolis where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Minneapolis Central High School in 1953 and attended the University of Minnesota, earning a BA degree in journalism and MA degree in American Studies. She married Glenn Ray and they were the parents of three children. The marriage ended in divorce. Jo Anne worked most of her adult life in the editing/writing/public relations field, first for the University of Minnesota and then as public information director for Minnesota ARC. For 13 years she edited the Minnesota Horticulturist magazine and then served as an information officer for the Minnesota Department of Public Service. She retired in 2000 and in 2003 went to Lewistown, Montana, where she worked as a VISTA! America Corps volunteer, coordinating a youth mentoring program. In 2004 she moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, and has been a faithful volunteer at the Clinton Library since that time. She is preceded in death by her sister, Kathleen Saadi . She is survived by her children Chris (Robin) Ray and Andrew Ray of Minneapolis, and Anne (Leonard) Freifelder, New York City; grandchildren Sean, Madelyn, Jack, and Craig; close cousins, Lu and Brian Smith, Little Rock; and nieces Nancy and Cindi Saadi, Lewes, Delaware. A visitation will be held Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham St, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences(10)

SUSAN MOORE

#10

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Jo Anne was a talented colleague, an adventurous travel companion, and a dear friend. I will miss our sharing a carafe of wine and getting into a lively conversation, ranging from politics and books to football (about which I know nothing) and just plain nonsense (one of my strong suits). Good night dear friend. I will never forget the good times we had. Thank you for the memories.

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Sincerest sympathies. We are grateful for
the time we spent with your lovely Mother.

Arleen and Mitch

Audra Chapmon

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy to the family for the loss of your dear Jo Anne. I hope that you will find comfort in the words of Jesus at John 5:28,29 where he promised that the day is coming when he is going to resurrect back to life those in the grave. Until then, it is just like they are sleeping. (John 11:11-13) May your family draw strength from Jehovah, the God of all Comfort.

Eileen Remor

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I am so sorry about the loss of Jo Anne, a beautiful and loving person. I am grateful that I got to know her through her daughter and my good friend, Anne Easterling Freifelder. I will miss Jo Anne's regular visits to New York. May her memory be a blessing.

Helen Moen Langevin

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Jo and I were best friends from 7th to 10th grade, at which time I moved away. She was at my house or I was at hers. We reconnected in 2000 when we both retired and she joined my book club until she moved to Little Rock. My life has been greatly enriched by having her in my life. I will never forget her as one of my dearest friends.

Patricia and Barry Solomon

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Jo Anne was a joy to work with at the Clinton Presidential Center. We were privileged to know her and we will miss her.

Randy Burford

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Jo Anne will be sorely missed at the Burford reunions, she did such a wonderful job of organizing and keeping us informed of all the family news. Such a sweet person, a dear cousin, and I always looked forward to visiting with her and her children. May God Bless! Just another great cousin that we have lost!

Tina Bordelon & Randy Burford

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

We are very sorry to hear of Jo Anne?s passing. She was such a wonderful & beautiful person! With prayer we offer our Deepest Sympathy to the family. May you all have God?s peace at this most difficult time. We are thinking of each of you. She will be greatly missed and we loved her ever so dearly.

Susan Kosowski

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Dearest Family of Jo Anne,

We worked with Jo Anne at the Minnesota Dept of Public Service and have many wonderful memories of this special woman..
We are so sorry to hear of Jo Anne's passing but are comforted that she no longer is in pain.

Shirley Courtney

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

So sorry for your loss. Loved JoAnne and am happy for all the great reunions we got to spend together. She was such a great lady! She will be missed!!

Jo Anne Green Ray

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