Mr. Steven J Ray

Steven J. Ray was born on September 11, 1975, in Evanston, Illinois to the late Robert Bryant and Shirley Ray where he spent his entire life. From Reba Nursery, to the courts of Reba Park, to the "Gang Ways" of Seward, the South end of Evanston was Steven's childhood foundation.

He attended Oakton Elementary School, Chute Middle School and Evanston Township High School where he graduated in 1994. During all four years of high school he played football where he played two positions; right guard on offense and nose guard on defense. The relationships he made while playing football lasted a lifetime.

Steven attended Olympia College where he earned a certificate as a Pharmacy Technician. Steven was employed at Connie's Pharmacy in Winnetka from 2004 - 2009. From 2010 until his passing, Steven was employed as a bus operator for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Steven had a passion for kids playing sports which encouraged him to coach for F.A.A.M Basketball at Fleetwood Jourdain in Evanston, IL from 2009-2014. Steven also had a profound love for music; it was a beautiful thing. Hip Hop was his first choice diving into its rhythm and poetry. Wu Tang, Cephas Hill, Tribe Call Quest, Leaders of the New School, Poor Righteous Teachers just to name a few of his favorites.

Steven comes from a family full of founding members of Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church. He joined in 1985 under the leadership of the late Rev. Jerome Brown and sang in the Voices of Christ Temple.

In 2010, Steven and Jennifer were united in marriage on December 30 and to this union twin girls Taylor and Chloe were born. Steven was a devoted loving, caring father to his girls. They were his world. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Arrangements entrusted to Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. Mr. Philip L. Gillette-Funeral Director 

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