Vernon Ray McGarity's Obituary
VERNON RAY McGARITY, 64, passed away on May 7, 2014, after a courageous 20 month battle with cancer.Ray was preceded in death by his parents Ethelene and Vernon McGarity and his sister Sharon McGarity. Survivors include his wife of 41 years Lee Callaway McGarity; brother-in-law Sam Callaway (Barbara) of Carmel Valley, CA; niece Amanda Callaway Harrison (Marty) of Corral de Tierra, CA; and great-nephew Alexander Harrison of the home.Ray graduated from Memphis State University and Central High School (class of 1967). He was a teacher/coach/athletic director in the Memphis City Schools and worked at Middle College High School, Lincoln Junior High, and Northside High during his 32 years of service.Tennis was as essential to Ray’s life as oxygen. He was active in the tennis community for more than 40 years and made many wonderful friends through the sport. Most recently he was the tennis director at the Cordova Family YMCA.A memorial service will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home, located at 5668 Poplar, on Saturday, May 17, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. At a later time, the ashes of Ray, Lee, and their beloved dachshund Oscar Meyer will be combined and sprinkled in California and Hawaii.The family is grateful for the compassionate staff and superb care that Ray received at Methodist Residential Hospice.In lieu of flowers, Ray requested that donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, 535 Alabama, Memphis, TN 38105. Ronald McDonald House is a residential housing unit for patients of St. Jude and their families.
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