WRAY, Jesse J

Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, December 27, 2007 Jesse J. Wray Jr., 83, went home to be with Jesus, his Lord, Dec. 24, 2007, surrounded by family at the Prescott VA. He was born in Moline, Ill., graduated from Geneseo High School in Geneseo, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse L. and Iverne Wray, and also by his brother, Melford Wray. He was injured Dec. 16, 1944, in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. He moved to Prescott in 1949 and introduced Prescott to its first Dairy Queen, which he opened on Gurley Street. Jesse and his brother owned Northern Arizona Dairy Queen, which consisted of 13 stores. He moved to Mesa in 1954, then back to Prescott in 1987 to retire. He married Leigh Wray in March 1977. She survives him, along with three nieces, Annette Smith, Lana Comparin and Suzanne Chesser. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Prescott. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, at the First Baptist Church, 148 S. Marina St., Prescott, Ariz. Arrangements were entrusted to Hampton Funeral Home. (Information provided by survivors.)