Ray Thrift, 62, of Wallace Circle, Otto, North Carolina, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at Angel Medical Center in Franklin, North Carolina.
Born in Rabun County on Nov. 29, 1954, he was the son of the late Rance John Thrift and Mary Jane Gilstrap Thrift. He was a truck driver and a member of the Blue Valley Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rance and Mary Thrift.
He is survived by one daughter, Crystal Rae Wiles of Comer, two brothers, R.B. Thrift of Tiger, and Roger Thrift of Rabun, Gap, six sisters, Jeanette McCrackin of Clayton, Jennie Frady of Clayton, Judy Ramey of Martin, Joanne Thrift of Clayton, Joyce Timmerman of Homer, and Lorraine Kelly of Homer, longtime companion, Frances McCall of Otto, two grandchildren, Valerie Romero and Gracin Wiles. Several nephews, nieces and cousins also survive.
Funeral services were Thursday, March 2, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Eastside Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Eddie Stillwell and Layman Lloyd Hunter officiating. Burial followed in the Long Creek Memorial Garden, Long Creek, South Carolina.
The body was at Hunter Funeral Home, where family received friends Wednesday evening March 1, 2017, at the at the Eastside Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. The family was at their respective residences.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made, in his memory, to Hunter Funeral Home, P.O. Box 653, Clayton, Georgia 30525, to help aid in funeral expenses.
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. An online obituary and guest register is available at www.hunterfuneralhomega.com.
The Clayton Tribune, March 9, 2017