Rovena Mae Denham Ray, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and Godly servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, passed from her earthly home into Heaven on December 18, 2020. Rovena was born on November 10, 1930 in Bellerive, Illinois to Wesley and Mildred Denham. She had an older brother, Jack. Her family lived on a farm through most of her childhood. They were unable to go to church for most of her childhood because it was too far away and their only means of travel was a wagon. When she was school age, they moved often throughout Nebraska and Illinois, always following her fathers work. He eventually found a job in East St. Louis where she attended and graduated from East Side High School. Rovena attended Southwest Baptist Junior College in Bolivar, MO majoring in music and minoring in piano. Upon completion of Junior College, she transferred to OBU in Shawnee where she attended for one year, then got married. Fifteen years later she went back to OBU and graduated in 1970 with a B.A. in Music Education. She later attended Oklahoma State University and received her Masters in Education. Rovena met Joe Lee Ray a few weeks after starting at OBU. They were married 11 weeks later on Thanksgiving Day in Fairview Heights, Illinois, her hometown. Rovena taught grade school for 22 years total, starting at Will Rogers Elementary in Shawnee, followed by Pioneer Elementary in Chickasha and Wellston Elementary in Wellston. She was selected as Teacher of the Year at Pioneer Elementary. Music was always an important part of her life. Her parents bought her first piano when she was in 8th grade. She sang in church, school and choirs her entire life. While in college at Bolivar, Rovena sang in a quartet that travelled all over Missouri singing. After she was married, Joe was a pastor and Rovena served alongside him. She played the piano in every church he pastored and led the music at a couple of them. Rovena taught Sunday School and played the piano in her Sunday School Department until she was no longer able to attend. Rovena loved her family and they loved her. Her most joyous moments were spending time with her kids, grandkids and the great grandkids. She always had stories and pictures to show and tell you about her family. When asked what the most important legacy she wanted to leave behind, her replay was "Faith. Faith in others, faith in yourself and definitely most importantly, faith in God". Her advice about life that she wanted others to remember is "That God is love. That he cares what happens to each of us and that He is always near when we call on Him. Study the Bible and believe its teachings and trust in Gods promises. He ALWAYS keeps his promises." Rovena is preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Wesley Denham, her brother, Jack Denham and her husband, Joe Ray. She is survived by her children, Greg Ray and his wife Sharon, Darrell Ray and his wife Cecilia, Tamora Graham and her husband David; Grandchildren Chris Ray and his partner Welton McKinney, Kara McCullah and her husband Justin, Amber Knapp and her husband Troy, Adam Ray, Allie Ray, Candace Dixon and her husband Andy as well as great grandchildren Miracle and Zariah McKinney, Karlee and Jaycee McCullah, Ryan Knapp, Brecker and Parker Ray, Evelyn and Winter Dixon as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and her church family. . Funeral Service First Baptist Church of Bethany Monday, December 21, 2020 10:00 AM 3800 N Mueller Ave. Bethany, OK: Oklahoma 73008 Viewing Sunday 11:00am-9:00pm at Mercer-Adams