Carol Jean Hanninen (Ray)

May 7, 1943 - August 15, 2024

Carol Jean Hanninen (Ray) was born on May 7, 1943, in Butte, MT and passed away suddenly on August 15, 2024 at HGH in Winnemucca surrounded by family and chilling out to her favorite ABBA songs.
Carol was the oldest of five siblings and was a softball playing, kick-the-can kicking, ice-skating tomboy through and through.
Her first job was at the Columbia Gardens and she was especially fond of telling about the sliding saves she would do to keep the children from being hit by the tandem swings. (If you know…you know!)
It was in Butte that Carol would meet and marry a handsome young man named Walter William Ray. When asked if it was love at first sight Carol would laugh and remind those inquiring that Bill (AKA your father/grandfather) had stood her up on their first date. (Allegedly…)
It was his good fortune (and ours) that she forgave him and the rest is history.
After tying the knot in Oct of 1962, the young couple would go on to travel the world with their three young children.
Destinations included Indonesia, Australia (surviving Typhoon Darwin), and Peru. (It was a matter of pride to Carol’s daughter that she held the family record of youngest passport issued at age 6 months old…until that record was shattered by Mr. Lucas Morris when he returned from Japan at 3 months!)
Next stops for the family? Colorado, Montana and finally putting down roots in a small town in Northern NV in 1980. To get the children to co-operate with another move, desperate times called for desperate measures and bribery was used.
The carrot that was dangled to entice the reluctant pre-teens? A swimming pool! What was delivered…a trampoline. Any skepticism on the value of this trade was quickly resolved when the trampoline became a hit with the neighborhood children.
The only hurdle to the children’s enjoyment was implemented by Carol when one day she looked out the kitchen window to be eye to eye with a happy occupant of said trampoline…two stories up.
After recovering from the scare, Carol quickly put into effect that no one would be allowed to jump on the rectangular child launcher unless they had signed parental permission.
Besides enforcing Ray Trampoline Law #1, Carol was active in the women’s softball league, bowling league, and woman’s golf league.
She worked at The Fashion Wheel and transitioned into working at Century 21 Sonoma Realty as a Real Estate agent until her retirement.
If you were a family member in Winnemucca you heard, “Carol is your (insert relation here)? She sold me my house!” She loved gardening, crocheting and when the opportunity presented itself, crafting with her grandchildren.
She loved laughing, dancing, music, reading a good book and family. Carol loved any reason to be together, but two occasions were her favorite.
Thanksgiving around a table playing cards and eating amazing food. And Christmas. In the early years if you could see the lights on the tree through the copious amounts of tinsel, she hadn’t used enough.
Over time, Carol restrained herself from the excessive use of tinsel but loads of gifts under the tree and the family around a table playing cards were still a holiday must.
Carol is survived by her husband Bill Ray of Winnemucca. Brother Larry Hanninen of Butte, MT. Sister Karen Cox of Helena, MT.
Daughter Shannon Roberts (Greg Roberts) of Winnemucca. Son, Clifford William Ray (Bill) of Carson City, NV. Daughter, Shelly Cary (Frank Cary) of Winnemucca. Grand-daughters, Misha Ray, ESQ. (Michael Stannard, ESQ) of Las Vegas. Savannah Cary of Winnemucca. Shae Cary of Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA. Josha Ray of Carson City, NV. Hannah Morris (Josh Morris) of Peterson Space Force Base, CO and Camille Roberts of Winnemucca. Grandsons Robert Ray of Carson City, NV and James Roberts of Reno, NV. Great-grandsons Conner Ford-Allison and Lucas Morris. And numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would request in lieu of flowers or donations that you spend time with your family instead.
At your next get together maybe try a hand of 31, Sets and Runs, or Idiot. Maybe throw a softball around, go bowling, skating, take up golf, read a good book, crochet, or craft with a loved one.