Earnest Ray Bryant , 66 of Athol, departed this earthly life on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at the UK Medical Center in Lexington.

Ray was preceded in death by his father, Earnest Bryant and his mother, Bertha Hensley Noble.

He was retired from the Breathitt County School System as a custodian.

In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, deer and coon hunting and farming.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mandy Spicer Bryant; his sons, Anthony Ray Bryant, Austin Matthew Bryant; his daughter, Amy (Jesse) Bailey; his brother, Fred Bryant; his sisters, Darlene McKnight, Wilma Spicer; his grandchildren, Alex Ray (Brooklyn) Bryant, Tyler Anthony Bryant, Caleb Bailey, Caden Bailey, Corbin Bailey; his great granddaughter, Josie Kate Bryant.

Visitation for Ray will be Thursday, October 31, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM with funeral service Friday, November 1, 11:00 AM at the funeral home with Paul Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Bryant Family Cemetery at Oakdale.

Serving as pallbearers will be Anthony Ray Bryant, Austin Matthew Bryant, Jesse Bailey, Alex Ray Bryant, Tyler Anthony Bryant, Caleb Bailey, Caden Bailey, Corbin Bailey.