Sarah Ray Voelker

FORT WORTH: Sarah Mary Ray Voelker passed from this life into the Kingdom of God on Saturday, July 5, 2025.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 10:00 am Friday, July 11, 2025 at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Rosary and remarks will begin at 6:00 pm Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Thompson’s Harveson & Cole with visitation until 8:00 pm.

Private Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park.

Pallbearers: Sarah’s nephews.

MEMORIALS: May be made to The Discalced Carmelite Monastery, 6301 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238 or to the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, 909 West Shaw, Fort Worth, 76110.

Sarah was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on December 23, 1944, to Paul Richard Ray and Sarah Campbell Ray, the second child and eldest daughter of ten children. Sarah moved to Fort Worth in 1952 with her family and attended Our Lady of Victory Academy and Paschal High School, respectively. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas in 1966, she returned to Fort Worth to begin her teaching career at Eastern Hills High School. In 1973, Sarah married Wilson F. Voelker, Jr., and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. She returned to Fort Worth in 1982 to raise her three children and spent decades with Fort Worth ISD, passionately teaching and leading the English Department at Trimble Technical High School. She retired from South Hills High School where she served as Academic Coordinator.

Sarah was a devout Catholic, drawing strength from her faith, which allowed her to overcome great physical struggles throughout her life. She was a member of the congregations of St. Patrick Cathedral and Holy Family Catholic Church, as well as The Assembly. Sarah was a very creative person, who understood her artistic talents were the greatest gifts she could share with others. Sarah spent her life outside of the classroomfilling gardens with flowers, crafting dozens of colorful quiltsfor family and friends, and sewing comfort pillows for breast and ovarian cancer survivors. Sarah was a fiercely devoted and loving mother to her children and grandmother to her precious Lorelai, sister to her siblings and aunt to her many nieces and nephews. Known as Cissie within her family, she will be forever remembered with love for her faith, compassion, strong will, and loyalty to her family.

Preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and brother-in-law John Garland, Sarah is survived by her children, Sarah Audrey Voelker, Wilson F. Voelker III and wife, Brittney, FritzVoelker; granddaughter Lorelai Voelker; siblings Paul Ray, Jr. and wife, Elizabeth, Dr. Peter Ray and wife, Sherry, Anne Ray Abshire and husband, Danny, Breck Ray and wife, Shannon, Beckie Ray Geren and husband, Pete, Harriette Ray Weissenborn and husband, Charlie, Christina Ray Garland, Mary Fitzgerald Ray, Toni Ray Young and husband, Keith; 19 nieces and nephews including godson Breck Ray, Jr.; 26 great-nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.