Shabbona, IL

Friday, November 4, 2022, Kenneth M. Bray, 72, passed away at his home in Shabbona, Illinois. He lived in Shabbona for 24 years with his wife, Vicki Bray (Herrmann). They were married for 40 years living in Louisiana, Texas and back to Illinois.

He had one son, Kristopher Bray of Shabbona; a step-daughter, Tiffany (Bennett) Cassata whose husband is Craig and they are from St. Charles, IL. There are three grandchildren: Ariana Bray of DeKalb, IL, Bennett and Logan Cassata of St. Charles, IL. He is also survived by his sister, Jenifer Mirin (Paul) of Tampa, FL; brother, William Bray of Shabbona; niece, Juliet (Mike) Newton of Tampa, FL; nephew, Jeremy (Tanya) Ricken of Naperville, IL; niece, Nicole Bray of Yorkville, IL; niece, Kristen Bray of Sugar Grove, IL and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Ken's parents, Ned and Norma Bray preceded him in death. There are many cousins and their families in the Bray and Carroll family trees.

Ken was born December 5, 1949 and grew up in the farming community of Rollo, Illinois where
he helped his dad farm. He attended the Rollo Grade School and graduated from Shabbona
High School in 1968. He joined the Navy in 1969 and served on the USS Iowa Jima during the Viet Nam War. After the Navy, Ken attended Kishwaukee Community College in Malta, IL and then went on to graduate from Northern Illinois University and joined the Northern Illinois University Vets' Club. He worked at Caterpillar in Montgomery for several years. He moved to Mississippi and Louisiana and worked in the oil fields during the 1980's until the oil companies slowed production.

In 1982, Ken married Vicki Herrmann of Shabbona, IL. Returning back to the Shabbona area, he worked at the State of Illinois Employment Office in Aurora, IL. He then moved into the State of Illinois Banking Division as a bank examiner and retired after 20 years. He then began a consulting company, IT Assessments, to the state banks and after five years he finally retired. In the early years of his retirement, he had been elected to the Shabbona Village Board for one term. He spent much of his spare time working on the old house and finally finished to begin over again after 24 years.

Cremation care was provided by the Unger-Horner Funeral Home in Rochelle, Illinois.
A memorial celebration will be held at a later date in the Spring. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.