Ray grew up in Columbia and was sweet on Celestine from the moment she arrived in 1957. She enrolled at Hickman and he transferred from Douglas the next year. She had started piano lessons at age 11 and is still teaching piano in her home today. Ray was gradually drawn into the ministry by perceptive church leaders, went to St. Paul's in Kansas City, had several assignments in the mid-west, and landed back in Columbia at St. Luke UMC where he pastored until his retirement in 2016. Celestine taught music 47 years at Ridgeway Elementary plus being pianist/organist/choir director at St. Luke.