SPARTA — Funeral Services for Ruth Joyce Ray Ware, 80, of Sparta, will be held at 2 p.m. today, May 15, at Hunter’s Funeral Home in Sparta. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.

Mrs. Ware died on Friday, May 13, 2005, at her residence.

She was born April 10, 1925, in Sparta to the late Hubbard L. Ray Sr. and Mattie Lela Hudgens Ray. Mrs. Ware was a homemaker.

Her family includes her husband of 60 years, Sidney Jackson Ware Sr.; three sons and daughters-in-law: Sidney and Brenda Jackson Ware Jr. of Dothan, Ala., Stephen Ray and Sally Ware Sr. of Downington, Pa., Richard Lynn and Ronda Ware of Rome, Ga.; a daughter, Mary Jane Ware; a sister, Jean Ray Brock of Sparta; a brother, Hubbard Lee (Dick) Ray of Webb Retirement Home, Smithville; eight grandchildren: Douglas and Susan Ware Bullock of Birmingham, Sarah Ware of Nashville, Sidney and Leslie Jackson Ware III, of Nashville, Stephen and Sally Ray Ware Jr. of Knoxville, Dr. Allen and Rebecca Grace Ware Atchley of Durham, N.C., SPC William Gabriel and Stefanie Powell of Fort Bragg, N.C., Martha Ruth and Josh Hite Powell of Cookeville, Joseph and Kathy Wallace of Lebanon; a step-granddaughter, Amanda Leigh Fowler; and great-grandson Andrew Powell.

Pallbearers will be Gabriel Powell, Stephen Ware Jr., Jackson Ware III, Doug Bullock, Allen Atchley Jr., Josh Hite and Sam Parker.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Lazarus Hospice and the Cookeville Regional Cancer Center.

Memorial donations may be made to Lazarus House Hospice and the Cookeville Regional Cancer Care Center.

Don Burns of Central Church of Christ will officiate at the services.