Gretchen Roop Ray, 82, of Festus died Dec. 22, 2020, at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County. Mrs. Ray was a journalist, starting her career at Roop Publications in De Soto and retiring from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times in Texas. She was a member of the D.A.R., P.E.O. Chapter FR, and the Redeemer Lutheran Church in De Soto. Born Oct. 22, 1938, in Crystal City, she was the daughter of the late Mildred Marie (Dickman) and Lewis Wade Roop.
She is survived by her stepmother: Cathy Camp Roop; a brother: L. Wade (Karen) Roop II of De Soto; a niece: Lori (Brian) McKee of Festus; and three nephews: Lewis (Kelly) Roop of De Soto, Charles (Stephanie) Roop of De Soto and Jonathan (Samantha) Roop of Hillsboro.
Private services may be viewed online at noon Saturday, Jan. 2, by visiting the obituary on Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home’s website. Services will be officiated by the Rev. Dr. G. Michael Rose. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in De Soto. Memorials may be made to the De Soto Public Library. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.