William Duke “Bill” Goray, 92, passed from his earthly home into his heavenly home on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Graham.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Talladega Funeral Home in Talladega, Alabama. Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m. in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Talladega. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Talladega.
Pallbearers for this service will be Jim Hazel, Roy Barnes, Talmadge Gaither, Paul Gaither, Ray Studdard, and Harry Gaither.
A memorial service will be held in Graham on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home Chapel.
Bill was born Oct. 19, 1924 in Talladega, Ala., to the late John William and Jessie Mae (Duke) Goray. He married Bertha LaVenia Gaither on Nov. 26, 1946 in Talladega and she preceded him in death on Nov. 18, 2006.
Bill served in the U.S. Army Infantry as a machine gunner during World War II. He was wounded in route to the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart. Bill was a devout Christian and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Talladega, where he served many years as a deacon and taught the senior men's Sunday school class.
Bill and Bertha moved to Graham in 2000 to be near their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and when his health allowed, Bill attended South Bend Baptist Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Debbie Black and husband, Ray of Graham; son, Les Goray and wife, Donna of Graham; grandchildren, Lynn Dooley and husband, Gene, Lisa Black Knightstep and husband, Jimi, Amber Reyes and husband, Oscar, Cody Black and Jared Black; great-grandchildren, Will Miller, Charlie Miller, Scarlett Miller, Kasen Black, Macall Reyes, Hannah Hackler, Brock Reyes, Brady Black and Halle Black, and special friend, Jamie Taylor.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Ruth Waldrop, Nannie Gaither and Leatrice Goray.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.