Leonard R. "Ray" Ranson Leonard R. "Ray" Ranson, 79,of Sissonville, finished his walk on earth and stepped into the light of eternity on Monday, April 26, 2010 at Cedar Ridge Nursing Center, after suffering a stroke on April 10, 2010. He was born on August 10, 1930 to Ira Ranson and Helen Mae Cavender Ranson who preceded him in death. A sister Emily Courts, also preceded him. Ray was a veteran of the US Air Force and a stonemason by trade. Many homes in the area have been graced by his stone and marble work. He was employed by Huffman Brothers Stone Company, the Union Mission of Charleston, and the owner, operator of Ranson Stone and Masonry Supply. Ray was a member and ordained deacon of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Charleston, where he was honored as Father of the Year. He loved his church and church family and spent many hours caring for both through organizations like Project Love. Ray was passionate about missions and had made many trips to Mexico, Central America, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico to be involved in building projects that helped enhance the lives of the people he cared so much about. He was involved with the American Baptist Men in the Disaster Relief Program and spent many hours and days working at the Baptist Camp at Cowen and the Conference Center at Parchment Valley. He was a member of the Sissonville Lions Club where he was presented with the Leonard Jarrett and Melvin Jones Fellow Awards. Ray is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Betty Ranson, three dauthters, Sherry Baker and husband, Larry, Terri Ranson, and Patti Lowe and husband, Gerry; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Christopher Baker and wife Angie, and their children, John, Claire, and Benjamin; Elizabeth Hamilton and her children, Lauryn and Eli; Adam Sampson and wife, Brandy; Ryan Sampson; Mandy Carpenter and husband Randy, and their children, Rhianna and Dylan; Angela Liljander and husband Josh, and their children, Logan and Mikaylen; Kerry Langden and husband Ray, and their children, Hayden and Haylee; sisters, Anna Runion and Marian Garrett and her husband, Jim; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sue and Bernard Jacobs. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, who he loved and nurtured throughout his life. Ray Ranson truly had the heart of a servant, and by his quiet example pointed us to the Savior. He is deeply loved by his family and all who knew him. We will cherish his memory until we meet again. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Project Love or the Benevolence Fund at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1401 Washington Street, West, Charleston, WV 25312. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Ronald L. Stoner officiating. Burial will be in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to the service Thursday at Emmanuel Baptist Church.