Ray D. Pearson, 47, of Seneca, Kansas, died Saturday, November 16, 2002, as a result of a car accident at Seneca.

He was born December 1, 1954, the son of Lyle D. and Florence Engelken Pearson at the Axtell Hospital in Axtell, Kansas. He grew up in Seneca and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul Grade School and Nemaha Valley High School in 1972. He helped in the family business, Pearson Plumbing, while he was growing up. Ray attended Highland Junior College in Highland, Kansas for two years and also spent two years at Kansas Technical Institute in Salina, where he studied electronics and graduated in 1976.

Ray worked in Lee’s Summit at Unity Village and in Flagstaff, Arizona for several years. He returned to Seneca in 1985 where he managed the Village Inn for his mother. In March of 2002, his sister Lisa took over the motel and he retired due to health problems.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the Seneca Chamber of Commerce, both in Seneca. Ray enjoyed attending Legion baseball and was a scorekeeper for the games. He loved spending time with his nieces and nephews and visiting with hunters who passed through Seneca, often staying at the Village Inn. Concerts were also a pleasure to him and his favorites were BJ Thomas and Neil Diamond.

Survivors are his mother Florence Pearson of Seneca; four sisters, Helen Niehues of Corning, Janet Rettele and Lisa Studer, both of Seneca, and Marilyn Stallbaumer of Centralia.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lyle Pearson on May 30, 1989 and a brother, Daniel Joseph Pearson on August 24, 1959.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Tuesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.