Goshen, Indiana - Elizabeth Staton Ray, age 77, was received by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 25, at 11:03 a.m. Smokie, as she was affectionately known, passed peacefully in her home with her loving husband, Danny holding her hand, while surrounded by her adoring family that meant the world to her.

She was born on Jan. 14, 1949 to Leo and Fairy (McCoy) Staton.

A native of Pikeville, Kentucky, and a surviving member of the famed McCoy-Staton clan, Smokie became known in the Goshen community she called home for a keen eye spotting antiques, being a great cook, welcoming hostess, and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

At home around a card table or bingo hall, Smokie was a competitive player and loved to win.

Whether she was giving her opinion, nuggets of wisdom, or a dose of common sense, Smokies inherent qualities of fairness, honesty, loyalty, morality, integrity, or love were ever in question.

Her sense of humor, while dry, was never spiteful and oftentimes a person wouldn't know the joke was on them until they could see Smokie crack a smile.

Smokie knew no strangers. In her home, southern hospitality ruled, everyone was family, and the door was always open to all walks of life.

She battled cancer two different times in her life and was always a fighter.

Smokie will be deeply missed by the surviving members of her family and leaves behind her husband, Danny of 43 years; son, Anthony (Laura) Holland; daughter, Dawn Holland; stepdaughter, Danette Ray; granddaughter, Kayleigh Holland; 4 grandsons, Jonathon Holland, Ryan Holland, Harrison (Kaitlyn) Minnis, and Theo Minnis; as well as 3 great-grandchildren, Avaleen Davis, Emery K. Davis, and Rowan Minnis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Jaclyn Mullins, Dorothy Brewer, Randall Anderson, Dan Staton, Harrison Staton; and a great-granddaughter, Ellie Joy Minnis.

Visitation for Elizabeth Staton Ray will take place on Thursday April 30, from 4-7 p.m., at Rieth Rohrer Ehret Funeral Home, 311 S. Main St. Goshen, Indiana 46526, and 1 hour prior to an 11 a.m. funeral service on Friday, May 1, also at the funeral home. Pastor Bill Sauer will be officiating.

A graveside ceremony will follow prior to interment at Violett Cemetery in Goshen.

In lieu of flowers, contributions made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences can be submitted through the funeral home website, www.rrefh.com.