God called Melvin Ray Bible home at the age of 91 in the log cabin he built by hand in Canyon, Texas on April 22, 2017 at 9:48 P.M. (Officially 11:37 P.M.) Ray was born January 22, 1926 in Alanreed, Texas to John Coleman Bible and Verna Lee Cornell Bible. He grew up with five brothers, three older and two younger, and three sisters, two older and one younger. He spent much of his younger years helping is father on the farm and following Walter’s lead on many a folly. He graduated from Alanreed High School. He married Evelyn Joyce Trout on February 11, 1950 and became a devoted Christian parent of Peggy, Rhonda, Danny, Marla and Dale, while working on his Uncle Jim Bible’s dairy. Ray instilled into his children a deep belief in God, the Golden Rule, love of people and animals, and a basic knowledge of how to make something out of little. Later he worked for Horace Bible drilling water wells and then began his plumbing career working for Mr. Downing’s plumbing company in Canyon, Texas. He studied while working and soon took his family to Austin, Texas to sit for State Boards to earn his Carpenter’s License in 1957. He also got his Master’s Plumbers License in December of 1964. He opened his own plumbing company, but having too big a heart, he found it too hard to charge the elderly and low income families to make a go in his own company. He then found a professional home at WTSU and ultimately at High Plains Baptist Hospital from 1977 to 1984, during which time he obtained either his electrical or his welding license. Ray married Odell Fenter Rasco in December 1994 and gained the love of stepchildren Joe and Beth Rasco, Barbara and Jackie Davis, Ann Autry, Sam Rasco and C. D. Rasco and grandchildren. Ray built a log cabin with the assistance of Jimmy Bible and a few minutes of assistance from his children off-and-on. Ray enjoyed wood working, guns, antiques, and the simple things of life. He relished in taking parts of different things and creating useful things. And of course, the last love of his life BUDDY! Ray aspired to become a preacher, but though not called to be a pastor, God called him to go to jail.....weekly to provide Bible services and later in the nursing home from which Odell left this world. Ray is survived by his Christian children, Peggy Meloro and Todd Kwapil, Rhonda and Wally Johnson, Danny Bible, Marla and Jerry Massengill, Dale Bible, Joe and Beth Rasco, Barara and Jackie Davis, and Anna Autry; sister Ruth Pittman; brother Dale Bible; numerous grandchildren; and a passel of great grandchildren. Ray is preceded in death by his wife, Odell, father John, mother Verna, sisters, Irene, Verna, and Tiny, brothers, Clovis, Jake, Walter, and Boots, and stepchildren, C. D. Rasco, Rita Rasco, Katherine Rasco and Sammie Rasco. Ray saw the gates and lights of heaven in 2008 during his heart attack, but his service on earth was not complete yet. He stated "They wouldn’t let me in. They said I had to go back." Please share your favorite stories in Ray’s guest book. Celebration of Ray’s life will be at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Mescalero Baptist Church, 13330 Mescalero Trail, Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday at Alanreed Cemetery in Alanreed, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Brooks Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Ray Bible’s name to John and Soying McAdams Missionary Work payable to Empower International in Thailand, PO Box 4868, Chicago, IL 60680 or Canyon Senior Citizens, 1719 5th Avenue, Canyon, Texas 79015.