Dean “Deke” K. Ray Jr. was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Dr. Dean K. and Helene Ray on January 22, 1945. The second of six children, Deke had a legendary childhood at the family’s St. Joseph River homestead, purchased in 1952. The apple orchards, gardens and greenhouse nurtured his deep love for flora and taught him persistence and patience. His father taught him how to construct, build, repair and enjoy the fruits of physical labor. The river and woods taught Deke how to test his physical limits swimming, waterskiing, canoeing, climbing, building treehouses, and taking risks to develop his confidence for a lifetime.
The family homestead wasn’t far from Lincoln School, and Deke was a St. Joe Bear through and through. His passions and education collided at Albion College and the University of Evansville while studying Botany, and he continued into postgraduate studies in Wildlife Ecology at Michigan State University. Dean returned to St. Joseph to raise his family.
Dean’s children delighted him until his final days. His own childhood values of “work hard/play hard” inspired his parenting, and tough projects would earn his kids a blind eye when they found their own forms of “smart trouble”. In return, each child was gifted with strong character traits that embodied their father – mechanical minds, the value of physical work, curiosity, confidence and a dynamic wit.
Professionally, Dean carved his own career path in forest management, eventually pivoting into development and permitting consulting for lakeshore landowners. He loved his work – there wasn’t a tree he couldn’t name or a Fire Drive forgotten, and his deep knowledge of the built and natural environment of Berrien County was unprecedented. Dean’s family, work and volunteerism through Rotary, mission trips, and the St. Joseph Public School Board gathered a slew of dear friends and acquaintances along the way; and these pockets of relationships formed over holidays, shared vision and weekly breakfasts were a highlight of his social life.
Dean’s survivors include his siblings Kathy “Kak” (Barb) Ray, Deb (Irene) Ray, and Lissa Ray; children, Daniel (Merrill) Ray, Kelly Ray, Patrick (Nan) Ray, Andy (Colleen Feeny) Ray, and Casey (Brittany) Ray; and grandchildren Camden, Mallory, Caitlin, Daria and a long-awaited “coming soon”. Dean also leaves behind his long-term partner-in-parenting and dear friend, Dr. Kathleen Andries. He is preceded in death by his parents, as well as sisters Karen Leeds and Gretchen Whitton.
Dean would tell you that the fun is in the simplicity – don’t make it hard, do it the best with what you have, but also don’t undervalue a good tool. Please honor him by visiting the dunes, planting a tree, embracing a natural adventure, or making a donation to the Sarett Nature Center so generations to come can learn a fraction of what lived inside Dean’s textbook mind.
A celebration of Dean’s life will be held at Sarett Nature Center on August 16, 2025, 12-3pm.
Posted On: Monday, July 7, 2025 4:17 AM
