Jo Anne Ray

JO ANNE GREEN RAY was born on June 19, 1935, in Duluth, Minn., the daughter of Trudie Elizabeth and Robert Earl Green. She lived in Mankato, Minn., and Chicago and Oak Park, Ill., before moving at the age of 11 to Minneapolis where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Minneapolis Central High School in 1953 and attended the University of Minnesota, earning a BA degree in journalism and MA degree in American Studies. She married Glenn Ray and they were the parents of three children.The marriage ended in divorce. Jo Anne worked most of her adult life in the editing/writing/public relations field, first for the University of Minnesota and then as public information director for Minnesota ARC. For 13 years she edited the Minnesota Horticulturist magazine and then served as an information officer for the Minnesota Department of Public Service. She retired in 2000 and in 2003 went to Lewistown, Montana, where she worked as a VISTA! America Corps volunteer, coordinating a youth mentoring program. In 2004 she moved to Little Rock, Ark., and has been a faithful volunteer at the Clinton Library since that time. She is survived by her children Chris (Robin) Ray and Andrew Ray of Minneapolis, and Anne (Leonard) Freifelder, New York City; grandchildren Sean, Madelyn, Jack, and Craig; close cousins, Lu and Brian Smith, Little Rock; and nieces Nancy and Cindi Saadi, Lewes, Del. A visitation will be held Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 4-8 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham St., Little Rock, Ark., 72205. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.