A celebration of his life will be on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at 11:00 A.M., at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollister. Friends are invited. Private interment will be at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella. Donations are preferred to Hospice of the Central Coast or The First Presbyterian Church c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. Condolences: www.blackcoopersander.com
Leon Bray, 85, beloved husband, father and grandfather went gracefully into heaven on November 2, 2013, after a two year period of decline, due to cancer.
He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, JoAnn, two sons, Jim Bray (wife Debbie) of Hollister and Thomas Bray of Hollister and also two precious grandchildren, Christiana and Connor.
He was born in El Segundo, CA to Vera and Tom Bray. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers and a sister.
Leon had a very full life, starting out at a very young age loving the ocean. He was a “hard hat” diver of abalone and later took up scuba diving. He became a scuba instructor and taught the sport for many years at Ventura College.
After serving in the Korean War, he went to work for Standard Oil, working there for 16 years. After the big oil spill in Santa Barbara, he was recruited by the USGS (now minerals management) working there for 24 years, before retiring in 1990. At that time he renewed his interest in raising honey bees.
In 1994 he and JoAnn relocated to Hollister to be near his son’s family, and had the joy of watching his grandchildren grow up.
He and JoAnn were active in the Baptist Church in Ventura and then Grace Bible Church here in Hollister. Of late, they attended The First Presbyterian Church of Hollister.
Soon after moving to Hollister, Leon started his own business – Bray’s Apiaries, raising bees and selling unprocessed honey. Now his sons will take over the business.
Leon was a well loved man.
