Patricia Blackwell Ray

Patricia Blackwell Ray, 80, of Mandeville, LA passed away on April 6, 2023. Beloved daughter of the late Tillie Edward Blackwell Sr. and Lucille McGehee Blackwell both longtime residents of Bogalusa, Louisiana. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Vernon Carl Ray of Mandeville, Louisiana and by two Godchildren, Laura Keaveny (Jonathan) Boudreaux of Covington, Louisiana and Audrey Blackwell Wilkins of Mandeville, Louisiana. She is also survived by her brother Jerry Dale (Judy) Blackwell of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and her sister Jackie Blackwell (Bob) Bowles of Metairie, Louisiana and a host of nieces and nephews both local and scattered across the United States. She was preceded in death by her brother Tillie Edward (Gayle) Blackwell Jr. of Bogalusa, Louisiana and her sisters Betty Jo (Melvin) Lyons of Bogalusa, Louisiana and Bobby Nell (Harold) Wallace of Lanett, Alabama. Patricia was born and raised in Bogalusa, LA and was a 1961 Graduate of Bogalusa High School. She loved horses and was a member of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Junior Mounted Posse. She was an Honors Society member as well as a member of the Keyettes service club and the Paper Dolls Dance Team in high school. Patricia graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Biology and Life Sciences. At Southeastern she was a member of the Honors Society and the Lionettes Dance Team. After graduating from Southeastern, Patricia taught those same science subjects in both public and private schools in Pensacola, Florida. Patricia and Vernon met in Pensacola, Florida in late 1973 and were married on February 14, 1974. Early in 1977 Patricia and Vernon moved to Mandeville, Louisiana in order for Patricia to be closer to her family. Shortly after moving to Mandeville, Patricia accepted a position as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for Norwich Eaton and later transitioned to a Medical Sales Representative for Baxter Healthcare. Patricia was the first female sales representative hired by Baxter and essentially broke the glass ceiling for all the female sales representatives that followed. Patricia continued to work for Baxter until her retirement, but in the interregnum she was recognized by many sales achievement awards and was a continuous member of the Presidents Club. Baxter sales incentive trips took her to Hawaii, Germany, France, Hong Kong and beyond, planting a lifelong interest in travel. That love of travel expressed itself as vacation trips with her godchildren Laura and Audrey to Disney World, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, many cruises and beyond during Patricia’s working years. After retirement Patricia’s extensive travel took her to all seven continents with many of those trips visiting all the countries in South America including several trips exploring the Chilean Fjords of Patagonia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Antarctica. Many of those trips were shared and enjoyed with friends she made along the way. Over the years, Patricia has been a member on of the local running club spending 20 years of her life running 40 mile weeks. She was also a member of the Northshore Kiwanis Club. A Memorial Mass, in memory of Patricia B. Ray, will be held Weekday, April 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home in Covington, Louisiana. Visitation will be open two hours before the service from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Interment will take place privately at a later time. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to the care provided by Hospice Compassus. In honor of Patricia, donations are welcome to be sent to Saint James Storehouse at “James Samaritan”, 409 N. Jefferson Ave., Covington, LA 70433. Donations can be made online at https://jslouisiana.org. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The Ray family kindly invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Patricia Blackwell Ray

March 31, 1943 - April 6, 2023