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November 7, 1933 – May 12, 2025

Dennis Ray McClees, 91, of Columbia, died Monday, May 12, 2025, at his residence in the presence of his loving family.

Ray was born in the house of his parents, William and Beatrice McClees, on Main Street. From an early age, he worked with them, afternoons and Saturdays, in the family grocery store, also on Main Street. He graduated from Columbia High School in May 1951 and started summer school at UNC – Chapel Hill, where he attended for about a year. Ray was drafted into the United States Army in July 1953 and served until June
1955, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Ray and Jean Brown were married on January 15, 1956, and they soon moved on to Durham, North Carolina, where he had attained a job with Pillsbury as a salesman. Some months later, he attained a job in Siler City, North Carolina, where he pursued his childhood desire to be a radio announcer. Their first child, Denise, was born in October 1956, and in May 1958, the second child, Dennis, was born. By this time, Ray was employed at the WRCS radio station in Ahoskie, North Carolina. There, he would rise from disc jockey to station manager. The couple would have their third child, Robert, in March 1963. Ray also presided over adding FM to the station in 1968 before leaving there in 1970. He was employed at the Ahoskie Herald newspaper as a salesman until 1972, when he accepted a position as the first County Coordinator with Tyrrell County. In 1977, Ray began working for the Albemarle Regional Planning and Development Commission, where he stayed until 1985. Then he moved into insurance sales, starting first with Durham Life, then moving to Farm Bureau of Tyrrell County.

In 1994, he started, with what his brother Borden said he “should have been doing all along,” writing news. For the next 27 years, Ray chronicled the Tyrrell County news, starting with The Coastland Times, and later becoming managing editor of the Reminder, a local paper. Ray regularly contributed articles to both newspapers. At the age of 88, however, the Reminder ceased publication. Ray was active in the American Legion Post 182, where he was previously post commander in the 1950s. Over the years, Ray was involved in many community causes such as the Ahoskie JCs, the Columbia Fire Department, the Tyrrell County Genealogical and Historical Society, and the Friends of the Library.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Pastor Allison Lancaster will officiate.

Inurnment of the cremated remains will take place at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will gather with friends immediately following the committal service.

Surviving is his wife of seventy years, Jean McClees, a daughter, Denise McClees; two sons, Rob McClees and Dennis McClees (Pauline) all of Columbia; five grandchildren, Gabe Albanese, Natalie Wells, Julia Brewer, Grace Lilley and Amanda McClees and nine great-grandchildren, Scarlett Albanese, Ella Davis, Gage Wells, Jubilie Albanese, Mae Albanese, Cecilia Brewer, Ben Lilley and Zelda Lilley.

He was preceded in death by a brother, William Borden McClees.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to American Legion Post 182, P.O. Box 142, Columbia, NC 27925, or to Wesley United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 168, Columbia, NC 27925

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia.

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