Ray Douglas Starr, 76, of Newport, and formerly of Athens, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County in Newport.

A native and former resident of McMinn County, he was preceded in death by his parents, the late George Hunter Starr Sr. and the late Willie Marie Underwood Starr. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Faye "Polly" Smith Starr, on May 19, 1978; and one sister, Frances Helen Monroe. He was a member of Parrottsville Church of God in Newport, and had pastored at different churches in the McMinn County area. He retired as plant manager of Athens Furniture, was former plant manager at Wood Products of Newport and worked for Jackson Furniture Company of Danville, Ky.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Betty Jean Lupo Longmire Starr of Newport; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronnie and Sandy Starr of Athens, and their children, Ethan and Emily, and Tracy and Debra Starr of Athens, and their children, Hunter, Alexis and Samantha; two stepdaughters and one spouse, Wendy and David Crabtree of Karnsville, Ga., and their children, David Jr., Amber and Candace, and Lori Young of Coral Gables, Fla., and her children, Angel, Allison, Brandy and Katie; one brother and sister-in-law, George Starr Jr. and wife, Joyce Ann, of Cleveland; six sisters and five brothers-in-law, Betty Wright of Kingston, Wanda and H.L. Patterson and Glenda and Warren Hall, all of Athens, Agatha and Howard Ray of Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., and Faye and Eddie Morris and Kay and Bobby Kyker, all of Athens; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Bryant and the Rev. Vant Hardaway officiating. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Sunday at McMinn Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be H.L. Patterson, Warren Hall, Eddie Morris, Bobby Kyker, Thom Walker and Wiley Wallace.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com