Rev. Bayley

MADISON
Reverend Ray (Ted) Waldo Gustavus Bayley, 95, of Oakwood Village, formerly of Prairie du Sac, passed away January 29, 2015. He was born in Beaver Dam to Ray Waldo Bayley and Fannie Grolling on May 28, 1919. He graduated from Wayland Academy and the UW.

Ray met Hazel Jean Christoph while working as a Fuller Brush salesman; she was so pretty that he forgot her order! They married on June 30, 1944. Ray was ordained as a minister at McCormick Theological Seminary in 1945 and worked as a minister in the John Knox Presbytery. He worked with Wisconsin Alcohol Problems Council for the next 20 years. He was the first volunteer night chaplain at Madison Meriter Hospital for 21 years. Ray was active in the Presbyterian General Assembly and later became a member of the Association of Retired Ministers (ARMSS). He officially retired but served as an interim minister for years. For 20 years Hazel and Ray ran Pleasant View Park Resort on Lake Wisconsin. Ray continued being active in Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, his other family.

Ray was a charter member of the Sauk Prairie Optimists, an Eagle Scout leader, and a volunteer in Nicaragua. He served as Dean of Church camps and Inner City Day Camps of Milwaukee. For 55 years, on Christmas Eve, he played Santa Claus visiting homes in Sauk Prairie. He was a long term member of the Sauk Prairie Hospital Board and a regular blood donor up until age 83. Although Ray had many lifelong hobbies, including stamp and coin collecting, theater acting, listening to classical music, writing including writing limericks, and canoeing along the Wisconsin River, improving the lives of others was his true passion.

Ray is survived by his daughter Jeanie Rae Sniff (James), son John Calvin Bayley (Eva), grandchildren JoAnna (Paul) 0'Connor, Joshua Gabrielson (Christine), Pacal Bayley, Brendan Sniff (Michelle), great-grandchildren Mali Rae, Cal, Olivia Bayley, Carter, and Teagan, nieces Diane Christoph and Sue (Jack) Thiel, nephews Bruce (Joanne) Christoph and Doug (Laura) Christoph. Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife, his brother Gilbert, and his infant grandson.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, 5501 University Avenue, in Madison on Saturday, February 14, 2015. Family will greet friends from 9 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Church World Service for CROP or Wisconsin Community Action Program. Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434