Fortean Way of the Ray Passes Away

In the age before emails and the Internet, Forteans would carry on long distance exchanges of letters and news articles via (what today is termed snail) mail.

One individual known by name more than in person was Ray Nelke. He quietly died at 91, in February.

Raymond T. Nelke was born on November 21, 1927, and it was recently noted on the web that he died on February 7, 2019.

His official obituary, published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, mentioned he "worked for the St. Louis Post Dispatch as a typesetter and then went on to be the president of the Typographical Union#8 until his retirement at the age of 62. He was an avid collector of unusual subject matter pertaining to UFO’s and the paranormal {Forteana}. Ray was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in St. Peters."

Ray Nelke was the "beloved husband of the late Marie Nelke for 66 years; loving father of Chris (Mary) Nelke, Karen (Tim) Prickett, Mickey (Dave) LaChance, Gene (Ellen) Nelke and Steve (Kathie) Nelke; dear grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 19; dear brother of the late Joan Beine."

"Collectors of Unusual Data, International" (COUD-I) of St Louis, Missouri, was founded by Ray Nelke. He would characterize "his home as a clearing house for all sorts of weird news" and would give out "huge packets on a trade basis only."

Ray's presence wasn't much on the web, but, at least, on Facebook he liked Coast to Coast AM, International Cryptozoology Museum, and The Black Vault, which was quite an array.

He did appear on early net-forums as "Way of the Ray."

Another classic Fortean is gone, pulling off a long endplay. 

The Way of the Ray had his day, and he's now gone away. He was always helpful and enlightening in his heyday. Ray had much to say, via his oft-shared repeated communique.

Thank you for all you sent our way. My way. In your way.

Goodbye, Ray.