Judson E. Ray, Jr.September 1952 – August 2023Judson (Jud) Ray Jr. , 70, passed away August 31,  2023 after  a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Jud was born in Charleston, South Carolina. His family relocated to South Florida when he was a toddler and he lived most of his life in Cutler Bay. He attended Miami Palmetto High School, Mississippi State College and the University of Florida, Gainesville where he received his Bachelor's degree. Jud earned his Masters degree from Georgia State University.  Jud had a diverse work history including ski instructor, school teacher, coach, retail and stock broker. His favorite job ever was when he was a ski instructor in Colorado. He loved food , snow skiing and was an avid reader of books. Jud was a gregarious individual with a great sense of humor known for making people laugh. Although he looked like a hippie leftover from the sixties in his later years, he was a zealous Republican. He spent his final days at a select specialty hospital in that Mecca for Republicans of a certain age otherwise known as " the Villages".A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday October 29th, 2023, 11:30am at the Baughman center, University of Florida, 982 Museum Road, Gainesville, Florida.  In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the American Cancer Society.