Phillip Ray Cone, 46, went tobe with God in heaven onThursday, January 1st, 2015.
He was born on February 25th, 1968 and resided in Alachua County, Florida his entire life.
Ray was the owner of Ray Cone Automotive, Inc. that began as a full time company in January of 1998.
He is survived by his wife Kathryn Melissa Cone, his two children Dalton Ray Cone and Desiree
Cecilia Cone and their mother Katherine Cecilia Sapp, his two step-children Carrie Ann Freeman
and Joshua Glenn Oliver,his parents Fountain Bryant and Glenda Cone, brother Paul
Cone (Cindy Cone, Rebecca Callahan, Robin Green and joining in heaven Stephen
Cone) and two sisters Rosalinda Walker (Frank Walker,Heather Lovell and Cody
Friese) and Donna Acker (Chris Acker, Dakota Ray Acker and Cheyenne Acker).
Ray was well known and loved in the community. His neighbors and friends knew him as a loveable
man and a great father, his family was always his first priority. Ray could and would
tackle any project, fix anything that could run or crank up and loved custom work and rebuilding
cars and trucks. He raced everything from go-carts to mud trucks. His favorite project
was his ’68 Pro-Street Camaro. He also loved animals and had everything from dogs to hogs, cattle and donkeys which will continue to live on through his daughter, Desiree, and her love of animals
too. His legacy and love of custom trucks and cars will live on in his son Dalton Ray. He will be truly missed by many.
Funeral service for Ray will be held on Wednesday, January 7th, 2015 at 6:00 pm at
Forest Meadows Memorial Park Central “Chapel in the Meadows” 4100 NW 39th Ave. The family will receive friends one hour prior starting at 5:00pm.
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss of your family member and my friend Ray Cone! In our teen years we had so many mutual friends and we have so many stories to tell I hope some make it on here to make you smile when you think of him! I can remember a huge blue truck that was up really high with huge mud tires. (many of the guys had those back then) But at the old watermelon pond Ray tried to go thru some really muddy parts and got stuck… Another friend had a similiar mud truck with a strong winch and went in to pull him out but first had to do circles around Ray and get him all muddy, you could not even tell the truck was blue anymore, and then he finally pulled Ray out. Ray swore that day he would never get stuck again that he would be the ones pulling people out. He was the nicest person, most thoughtful of everyone, always willing to try anything once, and loved life!! I’ll never forget the constant smile on his face from our teen years!!! R.I.P Ray! Well see you again! Much Love! —Sandy
Our Depest Condolences to The Family of Great Man, Ray Cone! Forever You Will Be In Our Heart. Remembering The Great Life Ray Cone and What He Truely Means To The Community of Gainesville, Fl.
Angi Byrd & Tony Hadsock
So so sorry Melissa and family to hear of you’re loss. May The Lord keep you in His arms and comfort you all. He will never be missed or forgotten as long as you’re memories stay alive in you. Love and deepest deepest thoughts for you all and Melissa I love you.
I know most of you don’t even know who I am. I am a cousin of Bryant’s. So sorry to hear of the loss of your son, father, and all around good guy. My prayers will be with the family. Our families should visit more. We all are getting older. May God bless all of you.
Kathryn, we at R E Michel will keep you & your family in ours prayers. Ray was a great guy & will be missed by all that knew him.
Still in shock that the near year brought such tragedy to everyone that knew Ray! He was the type of person/friend that you always thought would be there no matter what. Kicking myself for the many times I rode by Ray Cone Automotive and never stopped. While it had been a few years since I last received a monstrous hug from him, I will never forget him. He witnessed a fatal car accident in 1987 that I was involved in and hurt pretty badly; he helped the EMT’s and when I came out of my coma he said “for someone so little you sure did put up a fight”! Although that seems like a little unimportant “happening”, it will always be with me and make me smile.
Smile down on all of us my friend!
Still in shock that the new year brought such tragedy to everyone that knew Ray! He was the type of person/friend that you always thought would be there no matter what. Kicking myself for the many times I rode by Ray Cone Automotive and never stopped. While it had been a few years since I last received a monstrous hug from him, I will never forget him. He witnessed a fatal car accident in 1987 that I was involved in and hurt pretty badly; he helped the EMT’s and when I came out of my coma he said “for someone so little you sure did put up a fight”! Although that seems like a little unimportant “happening”, it will always be with me and make me smile.
Smile down on all of us my friend!
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I have known Ray since High school and wished that I would have kept in touch. Its times like this you realize spending making memories with family and friends are so important. May the Lord keep Melissa and the family in his arms and comfort them all. Ray will never be forgotten he was a very good friend and loved by many
Our prayers and thoughts are with Ray’s family. He will be missed and remember forever.
Blessed Prayers
Lori and Red McRee
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during your time of loss. Ray was such a kind, courteous, and generous person and it is hard to believe that he has made his transition to heaven. May God continue to Bless and Keep the family. He will never be forgotten.
Melissa,
Diana and I were so shocked to hear about Ray. We’re so sorry for the loss of this great man. He will be so missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all the family.
I am very sorry for your loss. It can be hard for friends and family to find the right words to say at a time like this. Thankfully we can echo the comforting thoughts that we read in the Bible. At James 4:8 it tells us that if we put forth the effort to draw close to God, He will in turn draw close to us. No doubt, during such a difficult time, the comfort that God offers us is the best that we can receive. I hope that the loving memories you’ve built up can bring you some relief. Your family has my sincerest condolences.
Will be missed,Very good friend! All the guys at Partsco will Miss Ray very much!!
Dear Family,
When our love ones have fallen asleep in death, we do need some sort of comfort. We have a grand hope of a resurrection. What comfort and peace of mind we can find in the resurrection hope. By keeping this resurrection hope close to our hearts will strengthen us to endure the sorrow we are going through. JOHN 11:25,26; Jesus said to Martha, ” I am the resurrection and the life. he that exercises faith in me even though he dies, will come to life; and every one that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all.” Do you believe this? Hold on to this comfort.
Sincerely yours, Judy L.