Elgin High School Bowling

Elbert Ray Mather's parents were Merlin Eugene Mather (1901 - 1994) and Vera Eloise Young (1904 - 1984). Both parents were born in Iowa. He had one brother, Keith Victor Mather (1929 - 1983). In the 1940 federal census, Ray, which was the name he used his entire life, was age 7 and living with his parents, Merlin, who was 39 at the time, and Eloise, who was 36, in Munster, Indiana. Ray was in the 1st grade. Also in the household was brother Keith, age 11, who was in the 4th grade. Father Merlin said that he was an inspector in insurance. Ray later graduated from Earlham College and worked for a small theatrical production for many years. He went on to work as a theatre manager at Fontbonne College from 1968 until 1981. See a 1986 poem written by Ray Mather at Remember me? by Ray Mather. After that, he worked as the building manager of the Jewish Federation but illness forced him to retire in 1993. Ray was survived by two nephews, Jon and David. See Ray's obituary at Ray Mather: Obituary