Ray Gonzalez Jr., 84, passed away on April 4, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ray was born on September 15, 1941, in Snyder, Texas. He graduated from Lamesa High School in Lamesa, Texas, in 1959, where he played football and developed a lifelong love of athletics. He went on to honorably serve in the United States Army from 1959 to 1962 as a Medical Corpsman in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Following his military service, he pursued his professional calling in mortuary science, graduating from Commonwealth College of Sciences in Houston, Texas, in 1967.

Ray lived in Lamesa, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas, before eventually making his home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Over the course of his life, Ray worked as a salesman, lifeguard, funeral director, and in copywriting. He was an active player in the Kansas City handball and pickleball community, and he made lifelong friends with several handball players. He supported his children’s swimming, wrestling, baseball, basketball, football, and track and field.

He was loved by many for his sense of humor and dry wit, always keeping those around him guessing. Ray was reserved yet caring and supportive. He found great joy caring for his pugs.

He was proud of his Mexican heritage and loved to cook simple Mexican food for his family. He loved to speak Spanish and enjoyed Mexican folklore and banter. He was a lifelong Baptist and raised his children to go to church. He also had a great appreciation for good food and conversation.

Ray is survived by his three children, Myrna Gonzalez Childress, Marcella Gonzalez, and Marcos Gonzalez; his former spouses, Leticia Pesina and Lesa Gonzalez; his three sisters, Elizabeth Hernandez (San Angelo, Tx), Sylvia Ortiz (Arlington, Tx), and Olga Moreno (Riverside, Ca); and many cousins, and nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his pug Chula.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ray Gonzalez Sr., and his mother, Eudelia Gonzalez.

Services will be held on April 25, 2026, at First Baptist Church in North Kansas City, Missouri. He will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Tx.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

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