Ray Drayton
Our cousin from across the pond.
My cousin John often visited our family in Connecticut which was always a huge highlight for all of us. We were also fortunate to visit John and Pat’s family over the years. My first trip was in 1969. After Holly and I were married our growing families enjoyed so many happy times together including 2009 and 2011 weddings of our children. Our young families lived near each other in Atlanta when John was on extended special assignments for IBM. How great is was for us and our children to get to know our overseas cousins. Over the years we have shared many wonderful times together both here in the U.S. and in England. John and I are definitely related, as we both always had a camera in our hands, documenting every moment. John was very active with walking, playing games like cornhole, punting, birding and many trips to new places. Last year we were thankful that we travelled to Belbroughton and to be with all the Westleys again. With our daughter Amy, it was another fantastic UK trip since we were with them along with Clare and Tom again.
We will miss you John.
I always remembered how exciting it was for John to visit our family when I was young! He brought lots of fun and laughter and dad loved to revert to his English accent when John came. I did not see him again until Matthew and Becky’s wedding, and a few years later John and Pat came to visit me out west. Becky is right, he always was smiling and I’m sure he still is as he watches over us all now.