Family Talks About Tragedy of Accident
Last Updated on 12/1/2008
Published on 8/19/2008
Written by Scott Harper
Garrett Ray completed the eighth grade at Carvers Bay Middle School and was looking forward to becoming a Carvers Bay Bear this week. However, this summer he died in an accident while riding his dirt bike at the intersection of Ray and Tomahawk roads in Pleasant Hill.
The July 11 accident robbed Gale and Denise Ray of a talented son and separated Tyler Ray from his twin brother.
The family sat down recently to talk about Garrett and the impact he left on his family and everyone who knew him.
"When he was a baby, he was one who would get into everything. He was always on the go," Gale Ray said, adding his son did not waste any time learning how to get around. "He was walking by the time he was 9 months old."
As he grew, Garrett developed many interests and hobbies.
"His favorites were fishing and dirt bikes," his father said.
Garrett and his dad spent a lot of time together on both of those hobbies. On April 29 of this year, they were together when the teen reeled in an 8-pound large mouth bass.
"After he died, my fishing club had it mounted for us," Ray said as he looked up at the fish hanging on his living room wall.
Both Garrett and Tyler loved riding motorcycles, an interest that came from their dad.
"He rode my Harley a lot," Mr. Ray said.
Besides the outdoors, Garrett apparently had a passion for school. While many kids look for reasons to miss a day here and there, Garrett had perfect attendance throughout middle school.
He played the trumpet in the Carvers Bay Middle School Band and had talked about learning to play drums, Tyler said of his brother.
Music was something Garrett enjoyed but he wasn't a big fan of the new bubble gum tunes that fill the iPods of other teens his age.
"He liked classic rock and country," Tyler said of his brother.
Carvers Bay Middle School Principal Darryl Stanley said he has fond memories of watching Garrett grow and mature while he was in his school.
He said since he was a twin, there were numerous similarities shared by the two. However, as Garrett reached his teen-age years he began to form his own identity.
"He started to come out a lot and he started his own personality," Stanley said. "He really matured a lot between sixth and eighth grades. He was really fired up about going to the high school this year."
Stanley said he knew Garrett loved working on both computers and cars. Gale Ray said Garrett would help him rebuild a 1978 Z-28 Camaro they had worked on the past three years.
Work on the car has now stopped because, Gale Ray said, it's just too painful to do it on his own.
"When we got it, it was stripped down to the tires. We had a motor built for it and we would work on it together," he said.
Denise Ray said Garrett was his father's biggest fan.
"Garrett wanted anything Gale had," she said as she clinched a trophy Garrett received in 2005 at the District's annual C.D. Dobson Awards. He was named a "most improved student" in the District that year.
Leanne Powell has become a close friend to Denise since Garrett's death even though they had known each other previously.
She said Garrett was one of the most considerate teen-agers she has ever met. She said he was at her house one day playing in some nearby woods when a small stick lodged inside his nose.
"I ran out and tried to get him to come inside but he didn't want to because he was afraid he would get blood on the floor," she said.
She said he also didn't want to mess up a wash cloth so he would only accept paper towels.
"My husband was very impressed with his manners," Powell said.
Mr. Ray said he always taught his children "manners will take you places money cannot take you."
Garrett's grandmother, Cornelia Ray, was still too emotional last week to say a whole lot.
"I loved everything about him. He was a wonderful child," she said.
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I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHINGS ABOUT GARRETT. HE WAS A VERY SPECIAL BOY JUST LIKE HIS BROTHER TYLER IS. GARRETT HAD ONLY ONE GRAND DAY THAT HE KNEW. HIS NAME IS JAMES MATTHEWS ALSO HE HAD A GRAND MOTHER HER NAME IS ANN MATTHEWS. SOMETIMES THE GRAND PARENTS GET LOST IN ALL OF THE STORY. GARRETT WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO HIS COUSIN COMING UP FOR GA IN THE SUMMER TIME. THEY ALWAYS WANTED TO GO THE MYRTLE BEACH FOR THEIR VACATION. SO WHEN DUSTIN CAME UP HERE GARRETT, TYLER, DUSTIN AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY WOULD GO TO THE BEACH. THEY ALWAYS HAD A GOOD TIME. I KNOW IF GARRETT IS READING THIS HE IS LAUGHING HIS HEAD OFF BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHO THIS IS. I LOVE YOU GARRETT THE OLD GRAY HEADED WOMAN OR THE PO PO AS YOU WOULD CALL ME. Posted by THE OLD GRAY HAIR WOMAN on 9/21/2008
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Garrett was an awesome young man. I can remember growing up and going over to the Ray's house to grill out and swim. Also, I caught my first fish with the Ray's. I remember Garrett picking on me that day because my first catch was a baby shark! To this day there's not a day that goes by that Tyler and Garrett doesn't cross my mind. He will be dearly missed. I love you my baby brother. And I love you too Tyler, don't worry, I'm gonna be here for you no matter what. I enjoy our nightly conversations. Call my anytime bubba! I love you Tyler and Garrett! Posted by Stephanie, the big sis on 8/22/2008
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This was a true and a good story, and Garrett was everything to me.He was so sweet, and was really good in school. Mrs. Gale, Im sorry about Garrett, and I know how bad you miss him. I also think it was great for you to share memories about him because I know how hard it was. Garrett's Best Friend, Nikki. B. If you would like to email me, my email address is DixieDarlen292@aol.com I LOVE YOU GARRETT< AND WILL TRUELY MISS YOU!!!! Posted by Garrett's Best Friend on 8/21/2008
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Thank you for sharing your son with those of us who didn't know him. From a Mom with a son a year older than yours and as active and into the same things as your son, please know my heart breaks for your family. I pray every day that God will continue to bless me with his presence. I wish you peace Posted by Local Mom on 8/21/2008
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You have such wonderful memories of your precious son. He sounds like the type of son that anyone would love to have. May God bless you and keep you. You are in our prayers. Posted by Donna on 8/21/2008
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I'm from Charlotte, NC and was following your story from the first day it happened. I know this must be very hard for you guys, because I am also a parent. I have three children and your story really touched me this morning. I will PRAY for GOD to give you peace and joy to realized that he needed him in Heaven to help him work. From all the good things I've heard he was a wonderful Kid. May God Bless You and Your Family and I am very sorry about your lost. Posted by Another Mom who cares on 8/21/2008
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It was a beautiful story and I also thank you for sharing your beautiful son with all of us. May God bless you!!! Posted by Loving Mother of Two on 8/20/2008
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Gale and Denise , My wife Lisa and I have also lost a son , Wade. We will pray that you will have strength and peace as you recover. Posted by Woodie Altman on 8/20/2008
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What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing. Posted by Mom Too on 8/20/2008
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