Mary B. Ray, 93, of Myerstown, PA, died on Friday, May 30, 2025, at StoneRidge Poplar Run. She was the widow of Rev. Duane M. Ray, who died in 1996. Her first husband was the late Jose E. Alcocer.
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 6, 1931, she was a daughter of the late Franklin H. and Isidora (Aponte) Bunker. Mary was a science teacher at schools in New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania for many years. Prior to becoming a teacher, she was a registered medical technologist in Puerto Rico and New York. She also taught English to students of other languages in Lancaster and Lebanon. She retired from the Lebanon School District in 1993.
Mary was a member of Zion Evangelical Congregational Church, Myerstown, Lebanon County Retired Teachers Association, and ECC Global Missions Commission, a volunteer for AARP and Hospice of Lebanon, and a former trustee on the Board of the School of Theology, Myerstown.
Mary loved traveling as she and Duane visited various missions of the EC church when he was the general secretary of missions. She supported and kept in touch with missionaries all over the world, hosting them in her home when they were home on furlough, as well as supporting and hosting students from other countries at the School of Theology. Her extended time in Japan was very special to her, as well as the nine months she and Duane lived in Spain, helping with the mission work there after he retired. She often acted as a translator for the missions work in Spanish-speaking countries.
Mary is survived by her daughters, Mary, wife of Wayne Biro, DuAnne, wife of Dave Thrush, and Joy Ray; sons, Carlos Alcocer, husband of Dr. Tammy K. Field, Franklin Alcocer, husband of Claudia, and Rev. Bruce Ray, husband of Karren; grandchildren, Joshua Alcocer, Jonathan Alcocer, Katherine Freeze, Joseph Alcocer, Benjamin Biro, Tifani Biro, Mia Ranallo, Philip Daniel Alcocer, Dustin Thrush, Daniel Thrush, Dacia Thrush, Tyreek Thrush, Ellen Ray, and Jeremiah Ray; 20+ great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her son, Jose E. Alcocer Jr.; three sisters; and five brothers.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 12 p.m., at Grose Funeral Home Inc., 358 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067. Viewing will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Community Church, Evangelical Seminary, 121 S. College St., Myerstown, PA 17067, or Division of Missions of the Evangelical Congregational Church, eccenter.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gmcmissions.
