Myrna Jane RaySterling, KS

Myrna Jane Ray, 87, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away May 8, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin. She was born November 21, 1938, in her grandparents’ home in Pretty Prairie, Kansas, the daughter of Dean and Dorothea (Dunham) Bay. Myrna spent her childhood growing up on the Bayayr Farm outside of Pretty Prairie. She has resided in Waunakee, Wisconsin, for the past seven years. Myrna graduated from Pretty Prairie High School and Salt City Business College in Hutchinson. She was a homemaker, farmwife, and active member of the Sterling community. Myrna was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Sterling, where she was an active member helping with many activities like Sunday morning coffee and Vacation Bible School. She also was a member of the Sterling Women’s Club and Sorosis Club, Sterling, volunteered organizing the bloodmobile for the American Red Cross in Sterling, and served on the Board of Directors for the Rice County Council on Aging and the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging. Myrna enjoyed attending the Sterling High School and Sterling College sporting, musical, and theater events. She married Larry Knauf. They later divorced. On June 29, 1966, Myrna was united in marriage to Donald Arlen Ray in Sterling. He preceded her in death on August 14, 2005. She is also preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Julie Ray; and brother-in-law, Bob McCreery. Myrna is survived by her daughter, Lori Ramsey and husband Rod of Oklahoma City, OK, step-daughter, Chris Rettig of Wichita, KS, and son, Wes Ray and wife Christine of Waunakee, WI; three siblings, Edward Leon Bay and wife Shirley of Salina, KS, Linda McCreery of Estes Park, CO, and Jim Bay and wife Rita of Lakeland, FL; two grandchildren, Julianne Ramsey of Saint Petersburg, Russia, and Sydney Ray of Iowa City, Iowa; and dear friend, Michelle Ramsey of Oklahoma City, OK. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 11:00 until 1:00 P.M., at the Sterling College Student Union in the Cornerstone Lounge, Memorials may be given to Sterling College (for the Julie Ray Scholarship Fund) in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.