Donald Ray Ball, Jr. passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on April 13, 2023 after a courageous two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

A lifelong Lexingtonian, Ray was born on October 27, 1956 to Mira Snider Ball and the late Donald Ray Ball, for whom he was named. The oldest of three children, Ray spent his childhood surrounded by friends, riding minibikes and playing baseball with the Gardenside Little League.

From a young age it was clear that Ray was a natural born leader. Mature beyond his years, he was inherently curious and always interested in technology, gadgets and understanding how and why things worked. He could fix anything.

Even as a child, Ray felt a responsibility to protect his family and friends – a quality that ultimately extended to his many personal and professional relationships throughout his life. He always took care of his people and was generous with his many gifts.

After graduating from Lafayette High School in 1974, Ray attended the University of Kentucky and simultaneously managed the Ball Lumber Yard. He soon became president of Ball Homes at 23 years old, a position he held for the next 43 years. Under his leadership, the company became a nationally ranked builder with a strong community presence in Central Kentucky, Louisville and Knoxville providing homes and jobs for thousands of people. Additionally, Ray was a partner in RML Construction. Ray’s intuition for recognizing what could and should be developed was unmatched. He had a remarkable knack for negotiating and getting things done and, above all, he was always true to his word, a rare quality and something that will long be remembered as core to his identity.

Ray made his mark on the Lexington community through board service as well as other less formal ways. Most recently, he served on the executive board of the Lexington Center Corporation helping oversee the renovation of Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center. He’s a former director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, advisory board member of Central Bank & Trust Company, past president of the Homebuilders Association of Lexington, past president of the Lexington Development Council, director of the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass, member of the Mayor’s Comprehensive Review Board, and executive committee member of the Triangle Foundation, among others.

A lifelong car enthusiast, Ray realized a dream in 1991 when he acquired James Motor Company. Under his leadership, the dealership has seen three major renovations and more than doubled in size to over 60 employees. With over 100 models of Mercedes Benz, James is now servicing its third generation of customers. Ray loved helping his friends buy cars, spending time at the dealership and staying on the cutting edge of automotive innovation.

On February 25, 1984, Ray married the absolute love of his life, Linda Gamblin. The two were partners in every sense of the word. Together, they built a beautiful life and raised three wonderful children, Rachel, D.R. and Kelly. More than anything else in his life, Ray’s family was the source of his greatest pride.

Ray earned his pilot’s license in his early twenties and continued a lifelong love of aviation. He was a skilled snow skier, certified scuba diver and boating enthusiast – first at Lake Cumberland and most recently on the Gulf in Florida. An avid golfer, he enjoyed the game to the fullest playing thousands of rounds locally as well as on several of the most highly rated courses throughout the country and world. Playing golf with his many friends, both in Lexington and Naples, was one of his favorite ways to spend a day. In 2015, Ray shot his first hole-in-one on the 8th hole at Lexington Country Club. He continued to enjoy playing with his buddies and Linda throughout much of his treatment, regularly scoring in the seventies and sinking his second hole-in-one just last June on #11 at Idle Hour Country Club with two of his closest friends.

In 2004, Ray and Linda built the first house on Empire Pass in Deer Valley, Utah which became a second home for the family and the backdrop for many of the family’s happiest memories including Kelly’s wedding in 2021. In recent years, Ray and Linda loved spending significant time in Naples developing meaningful friendships, enjoying Royal Poinciana Golf Club and taking in countless sunsets together on the Gulf.

Ray was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington and attended Naples United Church of Christ and Mountain Life Church in Park City, Utah.

Ray was truly one of a kind. A rare combination of understated yet larger than life. He was known for his business acumen, quick wit and ability to solve any problem. Friends and family will always remember his grin and the way he never stopped taking care of his people.

Ray leaves behind many loved ones to honor and cherish his extraordinary legacy: his loving and devoted wife of over thirty-nine years, Linda; his beloved mother, Mira Ball; his children Rachel (Justin) Albright, Donald Ray Ball, III, his namesake, and Kelly (Field) Broadbent; his brother Mike (Kay Kay) Ball; his sister Lisa Ball; nieces and nephews and his treasured grandchildren Hallie, Cates and Harrison Albright – all of whom will spend their lives hearing how genuinely their G-Da delighted in each of them. Ray loved and was deeply loved by his family and many friends.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at the church on Thursday at 1:00 PM.

Contributions in Ray’s memory are suggested for the future University of Kentucky Cancer Treatment Center at the following address: Markey Cancer Center, P.O. Box 34184, Lexington, KY 40588.