Dr. Raymond (Ray) Lawrence Laughters

Dr. Raymond (Ray) Lawrence Laughters, 72, of Kingsport, TN, passed peacefully at his residence and went to his heavenly home on Thursday, August 10, 2017. He was born on March 1, 1945 to Guy and Mary Forgety Laughters in Kingsport, TN.

Surviving loving family members are his dear wife of 50 years, Janet Frazier Laughters; their two children, Jeff Laughters of Bluff City, TN and Shelby Laughters of Kingsport; two brothers, Keith Laughters and wife, Sherry of Coeburn, VA, and Gerald Laughters and wife, Jeannie of Church Hill, TN; cousin, Linda Solari and husband, Don of Clearwater, FL; special father-in-law, Okey Frazier; and brother and sister-in-laws, Gary and Judy Sanders, and Myron Frazier, all of Kingsport.

Ray was a member of First Baptist Church and he graduated from Dobyns-Bennett in 1963. He began his pre pharmacy at East Tennessee State and graduated with honors in 1968 from the University of Tennessee, College of Pharmacy in Memphis, TN with a Bachelor's of Science in Pharmacy. While there he was a member of RHO CHI and served as Chaplain of Kappa Psi Fraternity. He was a member of the Tennessee Pharmacist Association. He began his 42 year career in Kingsport working as a pharmacist at Armour Drugs and moved to pharmacist in charge at Revco Drugs prior to accepting a position with Treasury (Thrift) Drug, a subsidiary of JC Penney Co. During his 23 years with Thrift Drug he was in many positions from Pharmacist in Ashland, KY, Pharmacist/Assistant Store Manager in Kingsport, Pharmacist/Store Manager in Marietta, GA, Oak Ridge, TN, Newton Square, PA and Doylestown, PA. His time in management earned Ray his Assistant District Manager position in 1985 in Philadelphia, PA and was then promoted to District Manager in 1987. He was responsible for all administrative, operation activities, objectives of pharmacy and total store for 23 stores with volume of $32 million. In 1994, he returned to Kingsport to be closer to his family, and joined Wal-Mart as a pharmacist for a short time prior to joining Wellmont Health System, with the start up at Medical Mall Pharmacy at Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol, TN. Although Ray worked mostly as a Pharmacist Manager in the Bristol, TN location he was responsible for both outpatient retail pharmacies located in Bristol and Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport.

Ray was a hard working career man that always had his family's future in mind. He joined in many activities with his family. His retirement in 2010 enabled him to enjoy being outdoors and trapshooting. He was a member of the National Trapshooting Association.

The family would like to say a special thank you for everyone's thoughts and prayers during his short illness with pancreatic cancer. To Wellmont Hospice staff, Nia Conlon and Judy Gail Love for the excellent care they gave him; and to Barbara Payne, Debbie Cross and Tim Dean for keeping his First Baptist Church, Medical Mall and Kettlefoot families up to date. He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 from 5-7:00 pm at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. A memorial service will follow at 7:00 pm with Dr. Marvin Cameron officiating.

Ray's request was to be cremated.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the General Scholarship Fund at First Baptist Church, 200 West Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660.