Melinda "Mindy" Ray

Melinda - "Mindy" - Joanne Townsend Ray, age 60, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Care Partners, John F. Keever Solace Center. Melinda was a Metastatic Breast Cancer  (MBC) Warrior and passed away from complications associated with her battle of MBC.

Melinda was born in Honolulu, Hawai’i on June 29, 1960 and was a daughter of the late Gaila Ka’awalauole Townsend and Benny C. Townsend of Crystal River, Florida.  A Native Hawaiian, Melinda kept the spirit of ‘Ohana - "Family" - a key part of her life as the daughter of military veterans who served abroad, and a career Federal Employee with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), serving multiple tours in the Washington, DC area and 12 years overseas in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Mindy received numerous CIA accolades and awards for exemplary service during her accomplished career, to include distinction as the CIA's only Executive Secretary to receive two "Secretary of the Year" awards in two different Directorates. Melinda was a PADI certified Master Dive Instructor, a certified Sailboat Captain, a Harley Davidson motorcycle enthusiast with her husband Donny, and an accomplished and professional Hawaiian Hula dancer and Kumu - "teacher" - of dance.  She shared her passion for Hula and her love of Hawaiian culture performing at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute, National Portrait Gallery, as well as many Federal Agencies, VA Hospitals, retirement homes, hospitals, Elks, Moose, and Shriners Lodges. Her extended ‘Ohana of "hula sisters" in Northern Virginia and Asheville, North Carolina were an important and integral part of her life and family, as well as her many friends across the globe who received her gift of Aloha.

In addition to her father, Melinda is survived by her husband of 22 years, Donny Ray; a brother, Neal Townsend, of Elliott City, Maryland; and a sister, Debra Townsend Jones, of Kaneohe, Hawai’i. Melinda also leaves behind beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews who brought great joy to her life.

A private memorial service will be held in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Tim McConnell officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the HOPE A Women’s Cancer Center, P. O. Box 16948, Asheville NC 28816, and Melinda be remembered in your thoughts, prayers and support of Breast Cancer Awareness and Hope for a Cure.

The care of Mrs. Ray has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.