Mr. Willie Ray Rasco transitioned from this life on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Saginaw, Michigan. Age 76 years. He was born August 14, 1947, in Springhill, Louisiana, to Lewis and Evelyn Rasco.
Willie Ray was educated in Louisiana Public Schools. He accepted Jesus Christ and his Lord and Savior and was baptized at an early age. After relocating to Saginaw, he was employed at General Motors (Saginaw Malleable Iron) and was affiliated with UAW Local 455. In his leisure time, Willie Ray enjoyed playing softball and basketball and teaching others to play. He was a funny, family-oriented man who provided for and protected those he loved. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He leaves to cherish loving memories his loving and devoted wife, Betty Rasco; three daughters, Kimberly Rasco (Mark) Bryant, Sonya Pelt, and Ametra Kipker; grandchildren, Deondrea (Quentin) Woods, Darvin Jr. (Champagne) Ham, Cedric Jeffrey II, Kimbrianna (Michael) Weiskirch, and Armonti Schrank; great-grandchildren, Kaydin, Aubriel, Catelaya, Darvin III, Khalil, Khizen, Cali, Lucas, Stacey, Cameron, and Laila; Willie Ray will also be missed by his siblings, Major Marie Johnson and Virginia Shehee, all of Ringold, Louisiana, and Willean Kinsey, Kansas City, Kansas; JoAnn Rasco (Albert) Saginaw, Michigan; special niece, Lakeisha Pelt, many other nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives including six sisters-in-law, Josephine Pelt, Jacqueline Floyd, Dora Pelt, Ernestine (Grant) Kimbrough of Bolilgee, Alabama, Geraldine (Van) Pinkard, Jesup, Georgia, and Brenda McKinnon, Georgia; five brothers-in-law, Henry (Denise) Pelt, Ephriam (Collie) Pelt, Eutaw, Alabama, Donnell (Antionette) Pelt, Toney, Alabama, Cedric (Annie) Pelt, Colorado, and Rodney (Robin) Pelt, of Virginia; special friends, Benny (Betty) Batts and Curtis Anderson.
Willie Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn and Lewis Rasco; sister, Irene Doyle; brother, Lewis Rasco Jr; sisters, Freida Rasco, Gloria Ann Johnson, and Mamie Cooper; daughter, Stacy Rasco, and granddaughter, Veronica Gaddy-Burton.
The family would like to express special thanks to the Staff at Covenant HealthCare Cancer Treatment Center, Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff at Paradise Funeral Chapel, and to everyone who expressed sympathy and prayed for us during this most difficult time.
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