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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>May God comfort Cindy and the family for the passing in to glory of this great friend. May he rest peacefully in the bosom of Abraham. He was very easy to love, had great knowledge about the NFB, and delivered his wise counsel with humor and much sensitivity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bitrus<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Helen Mejia via Tall-Corn<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 8, 2026 6:33 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List <tall-corn@nfbnet.org>; NFB of Iowa Des Moines Chapter List <dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Helen Mejia <hmejia@nfbi.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [Tall-Corn] Passing of Bob Ray<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I am sad to share the news that Bob Ray passed away Tuesday evening as a result of his battle with pancreatic cancer. Bob has been a member of our affiliate since 1965 and been a leader in almost every possible manner. We could right a book on everything Bob has done and contributed, and I encourage others to share their thoughts and memories, especially because many of you were fortunate to know him a lot longer than I did. I got to work with Bob quite a bit over the past two years, particularly with his work as the legislative committee chair until recently, and Bob and Cindy\u2019s key work as part of the 2024 state convention planning committee. Bob cared deeply about our organization and helping blind people. He was a good mentor and friend. Right up to the end Bob was working on Federation causes such as our work on Accessible Absentee Voting.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>We will share more details, but for now I know his service will be held Tuesday January 20 at 11 Am at Windsor Presbyterian Church.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Helen<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Helen Mejia, President<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>National Federation of the Blind<span class=apple-converted-space> </span>of Iowa<br><a href="mailto:hmejia@nfbi.org">hmejia@nfbi.org</a><br>(570) 983-7867<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>