Obituaries

Raymond "Ray" D. Waier

Photo of Raymond "Ray" D. Waier
Raymond "Ray" D. Waier a lifelong learner and educator, died August 14, 2016, in Bella Vista, Ark. He was 82. Born Dec. 16, 1933, Ray was raised in Milwaukee by his parents Raymond and Alice Waier. After high school, he proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard and later attended North Central College in Naperville, Ill., where he met Elizabeth (Modder) Waier, his beloved wife of 61 years. Ray helped raise four children while working as a superintendent in seven public school systems. He and his family always had a dog, and while he didn't always have horses, he remembered fondly the ones he trained. Ray was an amateur historian and writer who never stopped learning about the world he lived in and the past that shaped it. An avid reader, golfer and traveler, he shared his interests as a loving and generous grandfather. Ray graduated from Eastern Michigan University and later earned his doctorate in education administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He first worked as a teacher and principal before serving as a superintendent in the Wisconsin school districts of Juneau, Brown Deer, Mount Horeb and Milwaukee. He also worked as the top administrator for school districts in Grand Junction, Colo., and North Kansas City, Mo. As district superintendent in Kirkwood, Mo., he helped integrate the schools. After more than 40 years working for public education, he retired and moved to Northwest Arkansas. Ray is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth; four children, Saundra (Phil) Barker, Eric Waier, Heidi (Gene) Knipp and Kurt (Cynthia) Waier; a brother, Bruce Waier; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held 2-3 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 3 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2016 at Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Arkansas. Memorials may be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Ala. or Bella Vista Animal Shelter, 32 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, Ark. 72714. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

Published August 17, 2016

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