Ray Tomlin

James Ray Tomlin, 80, of Tomlin Mill Rd., Statesville, went to celebrate Christmas in heaven on Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 at Iredell Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. He was born on March 15, 1930 in Iredell County and was the son of the late Hugh Ivey and Mary Elizabeth Summers Tomlin. He attended Iredell County Schools and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952. On June 26, 1953 he married Lois Hall Tomlin in South Carolina. Ray was a mechanic, a plumber and a carpenter - he could fix anything and enjoyed helping his friends and neighbors or anyone else that needed his help. He was co-owner of North Iredell Grocery for 28 years. He was a former deacon and lifelong member of Hebron Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Gilbert, Bill, Charlie, Harold, Roy and an infant brother, Rex. Mr. Tomlin is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lois Tomlin of the home, one daughter, Cheri Tomlin Ellis and husband, Rick of Statesville, one grandson, who was the light of his life, Landon Ray Ellis. He is also survived by one sister, Earline Tomlin Church, of Danville, VA. Funeral services to celebrate Ray's life will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church with Rev. Darren Johnson, Rev. Otis Johnson, Jr. and Rev. Joey Tomlin. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military rites. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Nicholson Funeral Home and at other times will assemble at the home. Active pallbearers will be Tommy Tomlin, Ronnie Tomlin, Sonny Tomlin, Rex Church, Mike Ellis and Johnny Sherrill. Memorials may be made to the Landon Ellis Diabetic Care Fund, c/o Tammy Boland, 1050 Tomlin Mill Rd., Statesville, NC 28625. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. James Ray Tomlin.