Ray "Yogi" Bear

Ray “Yogi” Bear

1940 - 2022

Ray “Yogi” Bear, 81, of Barker Flats, Carter County, Kentucky changed worlds and answered the call from his friend Jesus, from his residence on Friday, April 1, 2022. He was born October 24, 1940, at home, the son of James Hardin and Emily Ethel Boggs Bear, and raised on the Dudley farm near the Carter/Elliott County line.

Ray became a born-again Christian at the evening service on December 4, 1994.  He was baptized on January 1, 1995, at Griffey Crossing; starting a new year and new life with Jesus.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, James Hardin and Emily Ethel Boggs Bear of Grahn, Kentucky; and three sisters, Lucille Bear of Dudley, Kentucky, Anne Catherine Holbrook of Elliott County, Kentucky, and Margie Holbrook of Parker Trail, Kentucky.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Diana A. Barker Bear; five siblings, Floyd Bear of Dudley, Kentucky, Nemo Bear, Ervin Bear, Esther Bear, and Pauline Rice, all of Grahn, Kentucky; one daughter, Tammy (Steven) Cornett of Wilder, Kentucky; three grandchildren, Shannon Rae (fiancé, David DeLella) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Bethany (Michael) Tucker of Sharonville, Ohio, and Timothy Cornett (Barbara Hudson) of Milford, Ohio; two step great-grandchildren, Caiden and Luke Bradbury; three great-grandchildren, Elijah, Isaiah, and Uriel Cornett; one brother-in-law, Jerry F. (Carolyn) Barker and nephew, Charles F. Barker, all of Barker Flats, Kentucky; and one niece, Jennifer (Darius) Sprague, and two grandnieces, Hope and Darcy Sprague, all of Salyersville, Kentucky. In addition to these, Ray leaves behind several more nieces and nephews, whom he loved very much.

Ray held several jobs in his lifetime. He worked in a machine shop in Michigan, as a telephone lineman in Kentucky, at the rail welding plant in Coalton, and with his father at the Grahn Fire brick plant for a short time. He worked as a butcher for several grocery stores for many years.  He did meat cutting for Barker Bear Custom Meats, tobacco farming, worked with cattle and horses, and for Carter Caves State Park.  His last job was at Superior Foods, with Bill Perry, as a meatcutter.

Ray has always loved being home on the farm. Even as a young boy attending Pine Springs and Grahn schools, he helped his family grow a garden. One thing he didn’t grow, yet everyone in the family loved to eat, was Ethel Bear’s homemade chocolate syrup.  It wasn’t a meal unless that was present on the table.

Ray attended Mountain Top Chapel and Smokey Valley Baptist Church, as well as being a member of the Heart Family, which included Grandmother Louise, Sonny Logan, and other greatly loved friends.

Ray was a multi-talented man, making leather goods, whittling and woodcraft, trying to fix whatever was broken, hunting, fishing, and working with cattle and horses.  One special buddy was Meeko, a beautiful palomino. He liked bluegrass music, flute and drum music, Charlie Pride, and Ralph Stanley’s “Rank Stranger”. His latest joy was watching the birds, rabbits, and squirrels frisk around in the yard.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Duvall & Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Service with Pastors Jim Owens and Mike Bryant officiating. He will be laid to rest in Barker Cemetery, Barker Flats, Carter County, Kentucky, the same day.

Friends may visit from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sunday, April 3, 2022, at the Duvall & Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 149 Whitt St., Olive Hill, KY 41164. Open to family at 9:00 AM.

Donations can be made to either Diana Bear or the Shriners Children’s Hospital, Lexington Unit. Special thanks to Community Hospice for their wonderful care.

Steven Cornett, Charles F. Barker, Michael Tucker, Darius Sprague, Timothy Cornett, Levon Bear, David DeLella, and Harlan Bear will serve as pallbearers.

Floyd Bear, Ervin Bear, Jerry F, Barker, Delbert Barker, Bill Perry, Darrell Price, Art Rogers, Mike Bryant, and Mitchell Mabry are recognized as honorary pallbearers.

 Due to the current community rise of Covid-19, we request that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Online condolences may be sent to www.duvallandmoore.com

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