C. Ray Winn

C. Ray Winn, age 93, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on April 1, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born on February 1, 1931, in Watonga, Oklahoma to C.F. and Gertrude Winn. Ray married Loretta Sue Thiessen of Hydro, Oklahoma, in 1955.

They moved to Clovis, New Mexico, where he taught at school. Ray then joined the Veterans Administration, which led him and his family to ultimately settle in Memphis, Tennessee. Loretta worked for the VA Medical Center as a Nurse, and Ray worked in various Human Resources roles.

Ray retired from the VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN, in 1990 after 30 years of dedicated and distinguished service. He was a Veteran, having honorably served his country in the U.S. Army. Ray loved to learn and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Growing up on a farm in Oklahoma, he learned the values of faith, honesty, hard work, and service to others. These values served as the foundation for everything that followed in his life and for how he is lovingly remembered.

Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Loretta, his parents, C.F. and Gertrude Winn, brother Clemon Winn, and sisters Naomi Bright, Lucille Lenaburg, and Margaret Weathers. He is survived by his children Mike Winn (Amy) of Bryant, AR and Kerri Pollan (Billy) of Olive Branch, MS, his grandchildren - who called him PawPaw - Brian Pollan (Leigh), Kimberly Allen (Meredith), Amanda Ward (Daren), Allison Maxwell (Jake), Mark Winn and John Winn; his great-grandchildren Hannah Ward, Caroline Ward, Maggie Ward, Eva Maxwell, Lainey Maxwell, Baird Allen and Alease Allen. The family also surviving him are Bill Winn (Wynona), Floyd Winn, Wayne Winn (Alice), John Winn (Sheryl), brother-in-law Floyd Thiessen (Kay), and many nieces and nephews. He leaves countless friends from Broadway Baptist Church, Southaven, Mississippi, and other churches before that, where he served and worshiped the Lord.

The funeral service will be held at Collierville Funeral Home in Collierville, TN, on Tuesday, April 9, at 2 pm, with a reception for family and friends to follow. The burial will be later in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Ray’s favorite charity, Mercy Ships (mercyships.org).