A funeral visitation celebrating the life of Raymond Earl Clary, Sr. will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Reverend R.B. Moore. Interment will follow at Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens in West Monroe, Louisiana. Services are under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Monroe.

Raymond Earl Clary, Sr. was born on February 5, 1946, in Trout, Louisiana and died on January 18, 2022, at the age of 75. Ray (or Hoss, as some called him) was loved by many and a stranger to no one. He loved telling old police stories and always had an audience.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Claudie Clary; step-father, Rube Watson; his in-laws, William and Marilyn Bridges; his siblings, Marion Clary and Bettye Billings; his brother-in-law, Bubba Bridges; and his beloved son, Raymond Earl Clary, Jr.

Ray is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Barbara (Babs) Bridges Clary; along with his children, Katherine (Claire) Clary, Wally and Jennifer Nawas, Gifford and Lisa Clary; grandchildren, Alex Clary and his fiancée, Sydnee Crowe, Joel and Caroline Jurisich, Jake and Ashton Nawas, Zach Nawas, Tristan and Caroline Oswald, Annalise, Peyton and Madaline Clary; Journi, Rayya, Phoenix, and Nixon Cao; great-grandchildren, Max and Charlie Jurisich, and Avery Tran as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his extremely spoiled baby dog, Harley.

In his 30 years as a Monroe City police officer, he received numerous honors and awards including “Man of the Year” award for the city of Monroe and “Supervisor of the Year” award. While at the police department, he and his very special friend and fishing partner, Don McClanahan, started the “Crime Stoppers Division” which was and remains very successful in the city of Monroe. After he retired as the assistant chief of police, he became the warden of Ouachita Correctional Facility. Finally, he ended his law enforcement career as director of juvenile investigations for Swanson’s Correctional Facility.

After retirement, he and Babs became even more active in their church, St. Paul’s United Methodist, where he served on various committees as well as cooking and serving meals at “Grace Place Food Distribution Center” and “Meals on Wheels.”

Ray had many friends from Jena High School who gathered frequently and stayed very close. His golfing buddies fondly referred to him as “Boom-Boom Clary”, and he enjoyed countless hours on the golf course with each and every one of them. Last, but not least, are his friends from “The Cigar Club” in West Monroe who he gathered with weekly in his retirement years.

Ray will be missed by so many but especially his wife, Babs. His impact on his family, friends, and the city of Monroe will be long remembered. Our greatest peace and comfort in this loss is knowing that he is reunited with his oldest son, Raymond.

Pallbearers will be his sons, Gifford Clary and Wally Nawas; and grandsons, Joel Jurisich, Jake Nawas, Alex Clary, Tristan Oswald, Zach Nawas and Peyton Clary. Honorary Pallbearers will be Will Bridges, Jerry Johnson, Jimmy Dale Roark, Don McClanahan, Larry Martin, Tommy Carraway, Mike Francis, Edwin Burnum, Juny Fowler, Daniel Wood, Woody Woodburn, Mike Goins, Bobby Mann, Tommy Cruse, Clay Jordan, Don Smith, Robby Moore, Allen Jackson,  Paul Palmer, Tom Jones, Pat Stewart, Judy Humble, Don Smith, Billy Kemp, Willie Buffington and Marvin Dearman.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, or Pilots for Patients.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.