James L. Ray, age 80, passed away on April 2, 2026. He was born on March 4, 1946, in Hammond, Indiana, the son of Harold and Harriet (Stanislowski) Ray. Jim served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1968. He purchased Carpetland of Appleton in 1981 and added the Oshkosh location in 1993. Jim retired from the business in 2006 and passed it down to his son, Jim.

He was an avid Chicago Bears fan, who had a love of music, cooking, playing the drums, golfing, hunting, and fishing at his favorite spot on Lake Wabana, in Minnesota. Jim was gregarious, no nonsense, and had a spicy personality; he could command a room by simply walking into it. He will be remembered most for being big-hearted and generous with his time, talents, and advice.

Jim is survived by his 3 children: Jim (Cathy) Ray, Liane (Shawn Nelson) Ray-Nelson, and John (Dawn Karrington) Ray; 3 grandchildren: Travis, Derek, and Will; 2 great grandchildren: Ava and Lukas; other relatives and great friends, that he cultivated over the years.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Bryan Ray and Joan Mills.

Visitation for Jim will be held from 1PM to 4PM, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton. A Masonic service and military honors will be held on Saturday at 3:30PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are appreciated to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Jim’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to his caregivers, Ashley and Mikayla for their care, compassion, and kindness.