Ray K. Yoder, long-time pastor, counselor, mentor, and church leader within the Franconia Mennonite Conference, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on May 29. Through his many years as a pastor-leader throughout Montgomery, Bucks and Lancaster counties, he developed a teaching style of ministry with an emphasis on healing. Along with late wife, Edna, they counseled many families and couples.

Ray was born on February 7, 1938, in Bally, PA, Berks County, to his parents, Henry G. and Elizabeth C. (Kulp) Yoder. He attended Diehl's School, a one-room schoolhouse in Bally and graduated from Boyertown Area High School in 1956.

As a conscientious objector, Ray taught children via Mennonite Voluntary Service for two years in Stanfield, Arizona. He and his soon-to-be wife exchanged over 1,000 hand-written letters during that time while she was training to be a registered nurse. On his return, he earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Mennonite University, then studied at Eastern Baptist Seminary (Palmer). He completed a Masters of Divinity degree at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN.

Ray's first pastoral role was a house church-planting in Levittown, PA. He served as pastor of Doylestown Mennonite Church and Upper Skippack Mennonite Church. More recently, Ray served many churches as an interim pastor leading them as they transitioned between pastors and planned direction for the future.

Ray and Edna moved to Harleysville in the 1990's. Here their mutual love of the outdoors, their wonder of flowers, and creative inspiration took bloom as they transformed their property along Indian Creek into a garden masterpiece. Their home was included on a local garden tour.

Ray relished taking his grandsons fishing, and he and Edna took them on memorable camping trips to Spruce Lake. He enjoyed regular get-togethers with his daughters and families. His sense of humor might have him braying at a donkey across the creek from his house or telling a good story. Ray and Edna were avid bird watchers, and he loved identifying and imitating bird calls.

Ray's love for the outdoors was expressed early in his career through developing and leading an Appalachian Trail backpack program at Spruce Lake Wilderness Camp. He also served on the board. Fall weather found him in the woods bow hunting, feeling at home in the quietness, the color and peace of the woodlands. He was an artist with oil paints and fraktur, a musician with the guitar and good tenor voice. Together, he and Edna loved vacationing -- whether in a tent or resort -- and took frequent trips with his twin brother, Roy, and his late wife, Sandi.

After Edna's passing in 2016, Ray read and reflected upon those many letters they exchanged before their marriage. He then moved to Souderton Mennonite Homes, his most recent residence, where he enjoyed being an active member of the community, and cherished his friendships.

Ray was predeceased by his wife, Edna (Mack) Yoder, and is survived by his two daughters Juanita Yoder and Cynthia Yoder and husband, Jonathan Shenk. He has two grandsons, Niko Kauffman and Gabriel Yoder Shenk.

Ray was also predeceased by siblings Henry Paul and wife, Mildred, and Harold and wife, Ruthie.

He is survived by his siblings, twin Roy (wife Sandi, deceased), Arlin Rich and wife Rachel, and June and husband, Nelson Shenk, and Harold's second wife, Jodi Yoder.

Visitation will be held at Souderton Mennonite Homes 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 22.

Memorial service will be at Salford Mennonite Church at 10:30 on Friday, June 23. An hour of visitation will be held in the church fellowship area following the service. A meal will follow the visitation time in the church fellowship hall.

A private burial with family will be at Salford Mennonite Church at another time.

The memorial service can be viewed via livestream by clicking HERE

The family requests any donations in memory of Ray be sent to The Worm Project, a malnutrition prevention program of de-worming, at www.wormproject.org The program is special to the family.