Ray J. Elzey Sr., 86

LAUREL - Ray J. Elzey Sr., of Laurel, died at Delaware Hospice in Milford, on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009. He was 86. He was born at Concord near Seaford on March 5, 1923, the son of the late Ray Elzey and Grace Elzey. His wife Connie Crockett Elzey died in 1993. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army in Cassablanca, France, and his unit helped to destroy the Siegfried Line and was in Germany prior to D-Day. He served from March 19, 1943 to May 21, 1946. He was a Lt. Commander of Roger W. Gunby American Legion Post 16 in Laurel and also was a life member of V. F. W. Post 10159 in Salisbury. He is survived by four daughters, Constance S. Black of Colorado Springs, Colo., Myra G. Elzey of Laurel, Linda R. Mitchell of Easton, Md., and Lt. Colonel Michelle D. Mitchell stationed with the U.S. Army in Phoenix, Ariz.; a son, Charles R. Sneed of Wilmington; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Almeda Gillespie of Laurel, and Betty Hadley of Delmar; an aunt, Linda Polk of Concord; and many nieces and nephews. A son, Ray J. Elzey, Jr. a sister, Rosie Foster, and four brothers, Henry Cooper, Tom Foster, Oscar Elzey and Richard Ford preceded him in death. Funeral services for him will be 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, at United Deliverance Bible Center in Laurel, with Rev. Timothy Duffield and Pastor Carol Sessoms Hopkins officiating. Interment will follow at New Zion Cemetery in Laurel. Friends may call at New Zion United Methodist Church on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and also at United Deliverance Bible Center on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. To share memories with the family please visit www.framptom.com.