Clyde "Ray" Minix

Clyde “Ray” Minix, 89, of Elkhart, passed away on July 2nd at Elkhart Place Assisted Living following an extended illness. Ray was born August 29,1934 in Belfry, Kentucky to the late James Clyde Minix and Myrtle (Stephens) Minix. He married his soul-mate and high school sweetheart, Mary (Bigelow) Minix on June 27, 1953. Surviving are his wife of 71 years, Mary L. Minix; two daughters, Linda (James) Sellers, Valerie Minix, both of Elkhart; three sons, Terry (Sandy) Minix of Bristol, Larry (Susan) Minix of Lake Worth, FL, Gene (Betsy) Minix of Boynton Beach, FL; sister, Joyce Frantzen, 18 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved son, Rick Minix, two brothers, James and Jack Minix, and a sister, Dreamalee Buss. 

Ray graduated from Edwardsburg High School in 1953, where he was a varsity starter all four years. He held an Eddie record for holding 14 varsity letters (3 football, 3 track, 4 basketball and 4 baseball). Minix was an outstanding guard and the top scorer of the 1952-53 basketball team. He went on to serve in the Navy National Guard in 1953 and attended Alpena College, in Michigan, where he played a multitude of sports, including golf, basketball, track, tennis and baseball. Ray transferred to Western Michigan University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science and began his teaching career in Edwardsburg, MI. In addition to teaching, he was a basketball and track coach, author of several published children’s books and game inventor. As a former drama student, he once wrote and starred in a one-man play performed at the Lerner Theatre, called “If Elvis Had Lived”. In his younger years, he was known for his “Elvis” singing voice. Ray and Mary enjoyed singing duets and performed together in local nursing homes. Eventually, Ray left the teaching profession and with his wife, Mary, opened the Seven Dwarf’s Day Care Center in Elkhart, which served over 100 children. They spent many years caring for local youth. In 1971, they moved to Florida and opened a second day care facility, and a residential youth facility in Virginia for at-risk teens. In his spare time, Ray was an avid golfer, hunter, lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and had a wanderlust for travel. 

Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday July 13, 2024 followed by a service at 1:00 p.m. at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514. Hospice Chaplain, Rod Holmes will officiate. A private burial at Adamsville Cemetery in Edwardsburg, MI will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the United Cancer Services of Elkhart County, 23971 US 33, Elkhart, IN 46517 or www.elkhartcancer.org in honor of their late son. Online condolences may be made to Ray’s family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com