Charles "Ray" Hawley passed away peacefully on September 5th, 2023, after a fall and struggling with chronic kidney disease. Born April 26, 1934, Ray turned 89 in 2023 and was still fairly active and independent, enjoying shopping for himself and any reason to get out and about. He cherished time visiting with his family and friends.

Born near Micro in Johnston County, NC, Ray was the third oldest of four children born to Jesse James Hawley and Thannie  Cuddington Hawley. He grew up farming with his family, enjoying baseball and socializing, and he always maintained a shiny, well-kept car even though it may have been a used car. He was best friends with his siblings Wreb, Marie and Jessie "Jr.," as well as his cousins Lavelle and Ruth Starling who also grew up in the Hawley household.  Ray served in the army between the Korean War and Vietnam, taking in European sights in his spare time. He was a generous son who continued to give his parents support throughout their lives.  After being honorably discharged, Ray went back to work with Western Electric (where he had worked before his army service), becoming a well-respected PBX telephone system installer during his 37 years with the company. He installed telephone systems in buildings for many local prominent businesses such as Hudson Belk, Sears, various banks, Wake Med hospital and a few high-security government locations.

Ray married Joyce Wilson from Wilmington, NC, in 1963 when working in Greensboro, and they relocated to Raleigh soon after. In 1967 and 1968 he became a father to daughters Liz and Chrissy.  He was a dedicated father who doted on his daughters. He took them on yearly vacations, moved them countless times without complaint in their 20's, and fixed their cars into their adulthood, often hand-repairing them. After Ray and Joyce divorced, he lived in the same home from 1967 until his death. He was very proud of the lovely 2-1/2 acre lot where he tended all sorts of fruit trees and his own garden.  Ray never met a project he couldn't tackle and was an expert at creative solutions.

Ray loyally visited his extended family regularly and kept those relationships a top priority.   He was a dedicated brother to Wreb and Junior, sharing much of his life, jokes and interests with them and living just down the road from Wreb and his wife, Judy.  Family and friends remember that Ray's humor and joke-telling were legendary, as he was gifted at being able to remember and retell dozens of jokes with flawless delivery.  His daughters often enjoyed that Ray's friend Pete had once nicknamed him "Hollywood" for his sense of style, which his girls thought was always befitting of him no matter what his age.  He enjoyed golfing, twice-yearly visits to the shagging convention at Myrtle Beach, watching NASCAR races and baseball games, and maintaining his home and automobiles. For his grandsons, "Poppie," hand-built a massive, sturdy swing set complete with four handmade wooden swings, one for each of them. Ray attended every school ceremony, performance, birthday party and any special event for all of the boys, who were his pride and joy.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Junior and sister Marie, his cousins Lavelle Starling and Ruth Odom, and his daughter Liz Ennis. He is survived by: his son-in-law Randy Ennis and grandsons Barrett and Graham Ennis; his daughter Chrissy Pressley, his son-in-law Matt, and grandsons Liam and Connor Pressley; his brother Wreb and sister-in-law Judy; and many nephews, nieces and cousins who created the family he cherished.  Ray and his family were blessed and thankful for five special people who made a difference in the last year of his life and helped him whenever needed: neighbors Maverine Jernigan and Lea Anne Murphy; his caregiver Kristine Febres; and his second cousin Wanda Starling and his special friend Joan Edwards.

A funeral service and burial will be held for Ray on Saturday, September 23rd, at Montlawn Funeral Home in Raleigh at 2911 S. Wilmington Street. All are welcome to attend the viewing from 11:00am-1:00pm; the service from 1:00-2:00pm (where remarks and stories are welcome); and the graveside service at 2:00pm.