Obituary for Ray Archer
Ray Archer, 86, of Winter Garden, FL, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 27, 2022, at Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, FL, with his wife holding his hand.
Ray was born on March 29, 1936, in Athens, GA. The son of the belated Aucy and Nannie Archer of Commerce, GA. He grew up in a large family of 10 children with little money. His father was a sharecropper, who picked cotton, dug wells, sold vegetables, and built awnings.
He is survived by his loving wife, France, of 67 years, who walked out her door and into his heart. They have five children, Lynn Glover and Husband (Steve) of Montverde, FL; Karen Archer (Deceased); Timothy Archer and Wife (Mila) of Chattanooga, TN, Son Robert Archer of Kissimmee, FL and Dawn Peacock and husband (Gary) of Winter Haven, FL. In addition, he has 13 Grandchildren, one (Deceased), 18 Great Grandchildren, and 4 Great Great Grandchildren—also many nieces and nephews.
After marriage, he took a job in Atlanta, GA. At first, they said he was too small for the heavy lifting in that entry-level position in sheet metal work. However, as years passed, he became accomplished as a Custom Stainless Steel Fabricator, among many building kitchens as in the Olive Garden Restaurants and Amtrak trains are examples. He taught many of these skills to his brothers, son-in-law, and grandson, who utilized what they learned in their jobs. After that, his family moved to Braselton, GA, where they lived until June 2, 1972, when he and his family moved to Ocoee, FL, to a new job. Several years later, he and his wife, Frances, moved to an adult community in Winter Garden, FL.
Ray was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Braselton, GA. He was a deacon and Sunday School Director and taught in the youth department. After moving to FL, his family attended Starke Lake Baptist Church in Ocoee, Florida, where he was a deacon and continued to teach in the youth department. Next, the family moved to First Baptist Church of Winter Garden, Florida. Again, becoming a deacon, and Sunday School Director, he started a program for 4 and 5-year-olds during Sunday Sermon time so they would learn in a fun way. He again taught the youth, which was his favorite but led all ages up to the elderly. He and his wife would visit the shut-ins and continue to create and nurture relationships wherever they went. He was a Godly man with his powerful love of the Lord and spreading his word.
Ray was a great man with a big personality with so many talents. In his younger years, he loved hunting, grabbling (fishing with his hands under rocks and logs), gardening, baseball, checkers, and writing. Whatever it was, whether telling stories or jokes, pulling pranks on others, and coming later in life, he wrote short stories about his childhood, his children, and grandchildren, fiction and nonfiction. He had so many stories he finally wrote a short storybook about the family's history in Moonshine. Some stories were hilarious, and some were serious.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday December 5, 2022 at 9:30 am for a meet & greet with a Memorial service at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church of Winter Garden 125 E Plant St, Winter Garden, FL 34787 FL, 34787.
Winter Oak Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Archer Family. Online condolences can be made at www.winteroakfuneralhome.com
Ray was born on March 29, 1936, in Athens, GA. The son of the belated Aucy and Nannie Archer of Commerce, GA. He grew up in a large family of 10 children with little money. His father was a sharecropper, who picked cotton, dug wells, sold vegetables, and built awnings.
He is survived by his loving wife, France, of 67 years, who walked out her door and into his heart. They have five children, Lynn Glover and Husband (Steve) of Montverde, FL; Karen Archer (Deceased); Timothy Archer and Wife (Mila) of Chattanooga, TN, Son Robert Archer of Kissimmee, FL and Dawn Peacock and husband (Gary) of Winter Haven, FL. In addition, he has 13 Grandchildren, one (Deceased), 18 Great Grandchildren, and 4 Great Great Grandchildren—also many nieces and nephews.
After marriage, he took a job in Atlanta, GA. At first, they said he was too small for the heavy lifting in that entry-level position in sheet metal work. However, as years passed, he became accomplished as a Custom Stainless Steel Fabricator, among many building kitchens as in the Olive Garden Restaurants and Amtrak trains are examples. He taught many of these skills to his brothers, son-in-law, and grandson, who utilized what they learned in their jobs. After that, his family moved to Braselton, GA, where they lived until June 2, 1972, when he and his family moved to Ocoee, FL, to a new job. Several years later, he and his wife, Frances, moved to an adult community in Winter Garden, FL.
Ray was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Braselton, GA. He was a deacon and Sunday School Director and taught in the youth department. After moving to FL, his family attended Starke Lake Baptist Church in Ocoee, Florida, where he was a deacon and continued to teach in the youth department. Next, the family moved to First Baptist Church of Winter Garden, Florida. Again, becoming a deacon, and Sunday School Director, he started a program for 4 and 5-year-olds during Sunday Sermon time so they would learn in a fun way. He again taught the youth, which was his favorite but led all ages up to the elderly. He and his wife would visit the shut-ins and continue to create and nurture relationships wherever they went. He was a Godly man with his powerful love of the Lord and spreading his word.
Ray was a great man with a big personality with so many talents. In his younger years, he loved hunting, grabbling (fishing with his hands under rocks and logs), gardening, baseball, checkers, and writing. Whatever it was, whether telling stories or jokes, pulling pranks on others, and coming later in life, he wrote short stories about his childhood, his children, and grandchildren, fiction and nonfiction. He had so many stories he finally wrote a short storybook about the family's history in Moonshine. Some stories were hilarious, and some were serious.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday December 5, 2022 at 9:30 am for a meet & greet with a Memorial service at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church of Winter Garden 125 E Plant St, Winter Garden, FL 34787 FL, 34787.
Winter Oak Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Archer Family. Online condolences can be made at www.winteroakfuneralhome.com