BLOOMFIELD, Mo. --
Carl Lewis Ray, of Poplar Bluff, was laid to rest Thursday in a distinguished graveside service at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.
Nearly 40 people traveled to Bloomfield to bid a final goodbye to the beloved 68-year-old veteran who died Jan. 6 in his unheated Park Avenue home, an apparent victim of exposure brought on by the week's freezing cold temperatures.
Several of the attendees were there to pay respect to a fellow veteran whom they had never met, while others went to show appreciation for the numerous acts of kindness Ray bestowed upon the community through the years.
"The incredible thing about Carl is that he had less material possessions than most of us, yet he was richer than us all," said Missy Ashby, of Poplar Bluff, who voluntarily spoke near the end of the service.
Ashby said she met Ray almost 10 years ago while working at Walgreens. She said he visited the store on his daily rounds, which also included stops at Walmart, Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers and many other businesses within walking distance of his home.
Ashby said one of Ray's favorite pastimes was giving money to children he would see inside the stores. She also said if he knew a woman was expecting a child, he would buy her a gift: a piggy bank with $1 tucked inside.
"He found joy in trading a dollar for a smile. By giving a child a dollar, he was investing in our future," said Ashby, who still has the piggy bank Ray gave to her when she was pregnant with her daughter, who is now seven.
Gail Fredwell met Ray several years ago when he worked at her business, Clifford Fredwell Auto Sales. She smiled and said Ray wasn't a very fast worker, but that he left a job well done once he actually did it. She said she instantly took to his gentle spirit and the pair remained friends in the years following.
"He was never violent, never angry," Fredwell said. "That was a great thing about Carl Ray. I never saw him get out of hand."
Fredwell said Ray enjoyed brownies, buying cars he couldn't register, chocolate milk and coffee.
"He was a coffee-holic," she said. "Every time I saw him, we'd have a cup of coffee."
Fredwell said she will miss their trips for breakfast at Myrtle's Place Back Alley BBQ, where Ray always ordered biscuits and gravy. She said she would miss his stubborn demeanor, too, but most of all she will miss "Carl Ray."
Though Ray was offered help and assistance from various charitable organizations, community members and city officials, he always declined with an, "I'll be fine," despite the bleak state of his living conditions. Utilities to his home were cut off in 2016 after city officials deemed the residence a safety hazard in 2015.
Angela Smith, Public Affairs Officer for the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, said she is working to prevent future tragedies by reinforcing the programs which are available to interested veterans.
"At the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, we offer a wide range of services, such as 24-hour homeless veteran placement services, special housing vouchers, and compassionate case management," Smith said. "We also have employment assistance programs and can help with transportation to VA appointments for qualifying veterans."
Smith said the VA will also provide referrals for food services, along with access to a clothing closet, which includes cold weather gear.
"In some cases, we can even assist with minor household necessities through sources like our Homeless Veterans donation fund," she added.
Mental health and substance abuse therapy services are available for veterans, along with professional peer support specialists. For vets engaged with the justice system, the VA's Veterans Treatment Court can intercede on their behalf.
"We also partner with many dedicated individuals and organizations in the community to make referrals for any additional services veterans require," Smith said. "In other words - we will do everything in our power - and so will our community - to assist homeless and indigent veterans with getting the care and services they need."
Rev. Greg Kirk of the United Gospel Rescue Mission said he met Ray many times, and agreed it was a stubborn spirit that kept the veteran from spending a night in the warmth provided by the shelter.
"When the weather is at an extreme, whether it's very, very cold or very, very hot, I will never turn anyone away," Kirk said. "We're here to help the community. You can't fall through the cracks around here - you have to jump through them."
At the end of Ray's funeral service, a woman who had been standing near the back quietly made her way forward. She had been clutching a bright pink piggy bank the entire time. Upon reaching Ray's casket, she placed the bank, which had $1 tucked inside, on top. And after the crowd filtered out, the pig remained.
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center can be reached at 573-686-4151.