Obituary for Ray Bly
Raymond Linn “Ray” Bly, age 67, of Jefferson City, Mo., went home to his Lord and Savior on January 27, 2023, from complications related to oral cancer. A devoted Christian, he was a member of First Baptist Church.
Ray was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas in 1955, but Jefferson City was his home. An avid hunter and sportsman, Ray began shooting squirrels and ducks at age seven and played both football and baseball throughout elementary, junior high and senior high school.
After graduating from Jefferson City High School in 1974, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he attained the rank of Lance Corporal and earned his rifle sharpshooter badge. A voracious reader, Ray was extremely intelligent and an enthusiastic student. He used the GI Bill from his military service to attend Central Missouri State University, currently the University of Central Missouri and graduated, with honors, receiving a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
After graduating, Ray was a security guard at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Tx, the primary United States Nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. He later became a Department of Energy Courier Agent where he was responsible for the safe and secure transport of government-owned special nuclear materials. He then joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Albuquerque and spent his near 20 year career as a Special Agent. Throughout his career, Ray demonstrated a keen ability to lead complex investigations involving multinational criminal enterprises. His talent for cultivating and managing confidential informants while maintaining lengthy undercover operations, resulted in multiple commendations and awards for his exceptional investigative skills. An expert marksman, Ray also served as a DEA firearms instructor. On 9/11/01, there were just 33 Federal Air Marshalls (FAM). Immediately following the attacks, Ray volunteered to serve as a FAM to protect and defend the flying public and flight crews.
While in Albuquerque, Ray met his wife and best friend, Roxane Spruce Bly, and they married in 1998. He retired in 2010 and moved home to Jefferson City in 2017. He spent his days enjoying morning coffee on the back porch, lifting weights in the afternoons, and fishing from his canoe in the evenings. Ray relished time by the water. He felt at peace on ocean shores and the banks of rivers and lakes. A life-long Razorbacks fan, Ray was thrilled when the Hogs won the 2023 Liberty Bowl. The gap between college football and Cardinals opening day was the worst time of year for him. When asked how he liked retirement, he’d always reply, “It’s the best job I’ve ever had.”
Ray will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a good friend and an even better man. He was unfailing in his devotion to his wife and family, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to support them. It was not unusual for Ray to see someone in need and offer them money for a meal or a motel room. As a generous tipper and a much-loved customer, Ray was a welcome sight at Jefferson City’s local restaurants. Quick to laugh and always seeing the humor in a situation, Ray was an inspiration to the physicians who treated him and the other patients at MD Anderson in Houston. He often said, “Every day I see someone who is facing harder challenges than mine. I have nothing to complain about.”
Ray is survived by: his loving wife of 24 years, Roxane Spruce Bly; parents, Raymond Lloyd Bly and Patsy Bly; brother, Mark Bly; niece, Ashley Bernardel; nephew, Justin Bly (Avree Askren); and great nieces and great nephews, Lydia, John, Norah, Kaison, and Oakley; mother-in-law, Ernestine Rodriquez Spruce; brother-in-law, Shawn Beryl Spruce (Brooke Brown), and niece Celeste; cousin, Linda Turnage (Ed); and many extended family members and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by: his grandparents, Howard and Lucille Jones, and G. Denton and Myrtle Bly; and aunt and uncle, Harold and Helen Bly.
In his memory, donations can be made to the Oral Cancer Foundation to save lives through prevention, education, research funding, advocacy, and patient support activities. You can further honor Ray by helping a stranger, leaving a generous tip for a server, or offering support to someone in need. Ray spent much of his life trained to protect, defend, and if necessary to kill. As cancer became an increasingly formidable enemy, he said, “People surrender too easily. They give up.” Cancer may have stolen some of the best years of his life, but it could not thwart his indomitable, fighting spirit. The day before his death, he told his wife, “We will keep shooting until we run out of bullets.”
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2023, at Freeman Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2023, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Melissa Hatfield officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Ray was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas in 1955, but Jefferson City was his home. An avid hunter and sportsman, Ray began shooting squirrels and ducks at age seven and played both football and baseball throughout elementary, junior high and senior high school.
After graduating from Jefferson City High School in 1974, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he attained the rank of Lance Corporal and earned his rifle sharpshooter badge. A voracious reader, Ray was extremely intelligent and an enthusiastic student. He used the GI Bill from his military service to attend Central Missouri State University, currently the University of Central Missouri and graduated, with honors, receiving a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
After graduating, Ray was a security guard at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Tx, the primary United States Nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. He later became a Department of Energy Courier Agent where he was responsible for the safe and secure transport of government-owned special nuclear materials. He then joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Albuquerque and spent his near 20 year career as a Special Agent. Throughout his career, Ray demonstrated a keen ability to lead complex investigations involving multinational criminal enterprises. His talent for cultivating and managing confidential informants while maintaining lengthy undercover operations, resulted in multiple commendations and awards for his exceptional investigative skills. An expert marksman, Ray also served as a DEA firearms instructor. On 9/11/01, there were just 33 Federal Air Marshalls (FAM). Immediately following the attacks, Ray volunteered to serve as a FAM to protect and defend the flying public and flight crews.
While in Albuquerque, Ray met his wife and best friend, Roxane Spruce Bly, and they married in 1998. He retired in 2010 and moved home to Jefferson City in 2017. He spent his days enjoying morning coffee on the back porch, lifting weights in the afternoons, and fishing from his canoe in the evenings. Ray relished time by the water. He felt at peace on ocean shores and the banks of rivers and lakes. A life-long Razorbacks fan, Ray was thrilled when the Hogs won the 2023 Liberty Bowl. The gap between college football and Cardinals opening day was the worst time of year for him. When asked how he liked retirement, he’d always reply, “It’s the best job I’ve ever had.”
Ray will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a good friend and an even better man. He was unfailing in his devotion to his wife and family, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to support them. It was not unusual for Ray to see someone in need and offer them money for a meal or a motel room. As a generous tipper and a much-loved customer, Ray was a welcome sight at Jefferson City’s local restaurants. Quick to laugh and always seeing the humor in a situation, Ray was an inspiration to the physicians who treated him and the other patients at MD Anderson in Houston. He often said, “Every day I see someone who is facing harder challenges than mine. I have nothing to complain about.”
Ray is survived by: his loving wife of 24 years, Roxane Spruce Bly; parents, Raymond Lloyd Bly and Patsy Bly; brother, Mark Bly; niece, Ashley Bernardel; nephew, Justin Bly (Avree Askren); and great nieces and great nephews, Lydia, John, Norah, Kaison, and Oakley; mother-in-law, Ernestine Rodriquez Spruce; brother-in-law, Shawn Beryl Spruce (Brooke Brown), and niece Celeste; cousin, Linda Turnage (Ed); and many extended family members and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by: his grandparents, Howard and Lucille Jones, and G. Denton and Myrtle Bly; and aunt and uncle, Harold and Helen Bly.
In his memory, donations can be made to the Oral Cancer Foundation to save lives through prevention, education, research funding, advocacy, and patient support activities. You can further honor Ray by helping a stranger, leaving a generous tip for a server, or offering support to someone in need. Ray spent much of his life trained to protect, defend, and if necessary to kill. As cancer became an increasingly formidable enemy, he said, “People surrender too easily. They give up.” Cancer may have stolen some of the best years of his life, but it could not thwart his indomitable, fighting spirit. The day before his death, he told his wife, “We will keep shooting until we run out of bullets.”
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2023, at Freeman Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2023, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Melissa Hatfield officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.