Ray Sweet

Ray Sweet October 10, 1938 - February 14, 2008 Henry Ray "Pappy" Sweet, 69, passed away, Thursday, February 14, 2008 at his residence. He was born October 10, 1938 in Hickory Nut Ridge, Kentucky. He was the son of the late Voida and Della Marie (Carter) Sweet. In 1960, Ray worked for Bryant Heating & Cooling, in 1963 he was the youngest President of Local Union 4315 at Bryant where he worked hard to get women hired and paid the same as the men. He is a past Moose Lodge member, CB Radio Club member, Wage Policy President, and Boy Scout Leader of Troop 599. Ray worked hard to bring a baseball league to Hancock County, hard work paid off and he is a charter founder of babe Ruth and Little League Baseball. With the league came many hats for him to wear, a coach, a manager, and a referee. Annually, at Christmas, Ray put on his Santa Suit and took the family to the local nursing homes to sing, hand out candy canes and spread Christmas cheer. His motto is he wants to make the world a better place when he leaves than when he arrived and he feels he has set the example for others to follow. Ray worked as an insurance agent in the rough part of Indianapolis where he was paid with a chicken or a sweet potato pie or rabbit. Then, he worked as a semi truck driver where he partnered with Jeanie, his wife, and they drove the United States delivering many things. Ray suffered a stroke in 2001 which forced him to retire and since he retired you often see him riding around Greenfield on his wheelchair and at Greenfield Council meetings speaking out, that the park was not handicap accessible. His voice was heard and the bridge that crosses Brandywine creek was repaired and a pathway through the park was installed. A sign with his name on it was installed at the mouth of the pathway in his honor but has since been removed. He was married to his wife, Eva Jean "Jeanie" (Polston) on September 8, 1956. He is a father to four children; Gary Ray (wife Kathy), James Dale "Jim" (wife Teri) of Greenfield, Darla Marie (husband Les) Smoak of Shirley, and Timothy Lee "Tim" (wife Jamie) of Carthage and two living brothers; Ralph Sweet of Warrington and Lawrence Sweet of Greenfield. Ray is a grandfather and Santa Claus to 11 grandchildren and 13 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lila Carter and Flora "Sis" Johnson; brothers, Bud, James, and Walter. Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 18, 2008 at Stillinger Family Funeral Home, Pasco Chapel of Greenfield with Darrell Deck officiating. Burial will follow at Currys Chapel with military graveside rites provided by the Greenfield Veterans Honor Guard. Friends may call Sunday, February 17, 2008 from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be to the Hancock Regional Hospice Unit 1560 B. State St., Greenfield, IN 46140.