Raymond H. “ Ray” Cowles, 83, of Belding passed away Saturday morning September 10, 2022, at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids. Ray was born on July 19, 1939, in St. Johns, the son of Homer and Josephine (Conklin) Cowles. He graduated from Belding High School with the Class of 1957 and later served two years in the Army-National Guard. Ray married his high school sweetheart, Kay (Coston), on June 13,1959 and together they enjoyed 52 years of marriage until Kay passed away in 2011. Ray has been a farmer his entire life. He was raised since the age of five on the family farm south of Belding where he worked alongside his own father. Even with all the long hours and hard work that is part of farming, Ray never thought of it as work as he so enjoyed being a farmer and the quality of the life that he built. He and Kay were longtime members of the Belding United Methodist Church. Ray served on the Belding Board of Education for several years and also served on the Otisco Township Zoning Board. In his free time, he enjoyed golf, playing games at family gatherings and wintering in Florida. Ray had a love of family and especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities. Ray will be greatly missed and always remembered with a warm smile, a helping hand and friendly conversation. He was preceded in death by his wife Kay, and his parents. Ray is loved and survived by his children, Christine Cowles of Belding, Doug (Marcie) Cowles of Oscoda, Jennifer (Jeff) Greenop of Grand Rapids, his grandchildren, Michael (Shannon) Armock, Brittany Ricks, Raymond Cowles, Riley Cowles, Brooklynn Storey, James Storey, Levi Storey, Elizabeth Greenop, Grace Greenop, Ryan Greenop, Connor Greenop, and his great grandchildren, Mckenna and Maddox. Ray is also survived by his sister, Nancy Clark of Howell. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday September 17, 2022, at Johnson-Feuerstein Funeral Home, Belding with Father Mark Przybysz officiating. Committal prayers and military honors will follow at River Ridge Cemetery, Belding. Visitation will be Friday from 4-6 PM and one hour before the funeral on Saturday. Memorials may be given to the Alvah N. Belding Library.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Raymond "Ray" H. Cowles, please visit our floral store.