J. Ray Wiley, age 68, of Lula, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
Born on July 10, 1956, in Commerce, he was a son of the late Julian David and Ruby Evelyn Wilson Wiley and a lifelong Georgia resident. Mr. Wiley was a United States Marine Corps Veteran before he started driving a truck, which he did for many years. For the last 45 years, he was a diesel mechanic and owned his own business, Wiley Truck Repair. He could fix anything and would give the shirt off his back to help. He had a contagious smile and never met a stranger. Mr. Wiley was a gun collector who enjoyed shooting and trading. He also enjoyed live music, Western movies and books, gardening, and watching things grow and produce. He was a grill master who liked wood smoking. Ray loved his wife, children, grandchildren, family, and friends, but most of all, he loved God and was saved by Jesus! He was a hero to many and will be greatly missed. His favorite motto was “Blood don’t make you family.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Amber Kay Wiley.
Survivors include his loving wife, Freda Wiley; son and daughter-in-love, Shannon Ray and Kathy Lynn Wiley; daughters, Kristie Wright and Brandy Cox; grandchildren and spouses: Tyler Wiley (Emily), Caleb Ray Wiley, Jacob Wiley, Andrew East, Leah Hill (Brandon), J.T. Cox, Christopher Cox, and Hezekiah Hochstedler; great-granddaughters: Braylan Hill, Caraline Joy, and Scarlet Wiley; brothers and sister-in-law, William David “Bill” Wiley and Phillip Wiley (Greta); sister and brother-in-law, Miriam McElwaney (Allen); and numerous extended family.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 pm on Friday, August 2, 2024, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, with Rev. Dusty Rogers and Rev. Kevin Woody officiating. Interment will follow in Clemmons Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Grant-Reeves Veteran’s Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 pm on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the funeral home and from 11 am until the service hour on Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, P.O. Box 725, Cornelia, Georgia 30531, to help with final expenses.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
