Harvey "Ray" Beatty was born July 28, 1928 in Dinuba, California. His mother and father moved the family from California to Alpine, Tn. while he was very young. While growing up in Alpine, Tennessee - Ray enjoyed squirrel hunting with his friend Robert York, younger brother of Alvin C York. In 1938 the family moved to Clinton, Tennessee. Ray attended Clinton High School, and served as President of his Senior Class and Captain of the football team.  During his years of playing football, he met a young cheerleader, Betty Jane Fryer, whom he later married in 1948.

Prior to the end of his senior year Ray withdrew from school to join the US Navy to help liberate his brother James who was an Air Force Captain, shot down and held as a POW in Germany. Upon returning from WWII, Ray secured a scholarship to play football at East Tennessee State and later transferred to and graduated from The University of Tennessee with a degree in Transportation and Finance.

Upon graduating from UT, Ray and Betty moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma where he joined Conoco Petroleum.  Missing Tennessee, Ray and Betty moved back to Clinton where he began his career at ORNL where he worked for 33 years, retiring in 1986.  During his career with ORNL he served as one of the financial directors for X10, Y12 and K25 and was involved in many of the projects undertaken by ORNL.

The majority of his retirement was spent on their farm where Ray enjoyed gardening, he was an accomplished craftsman in woodworking, making replica antique furniture, as well as building and restoration of civil war era log cabins.  He always enjoyed sharing his garden vegetables with family and friends. Ray was also an avid fisherman. If there were crappie, blue gill or bass, he was your guy. He loved and could flat out catch fish!

Ray is survived by sisters Helen McDaniel of Nashville, Ann Jarrard of Claxton, three sons; Michael and Beth Ann of Huntsville, AL; Patrick and Jill of Nashville, and Tim and Gayle of Knoxville, grandson Christopher and Karen of Clinton and several great grandchildren.

There will be a family only celebration of life this fall.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mark's Methodist Church, Clinton, Tennessee.

We love and will forever miss you, Dad!