Harrill Louis "Baby Ray" Ruff departed this life on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at his residence in Shelby, NC.

He was born on May 30, 1957 in Cleveland County, NC to the late James Lova Ruff and the late Rebecca Ann Ruff Surratt.

Harrill was a 1975 graduate of Shelby High School. He was retired from Wal-Mart Distribution Ceneter. In his spare time, he was avid sports fan who enjoyed watching sports especially wresting and football.

Harrill was always a very friendly outgroing generous person who never met a stranger who played a father role to many. He also was a natural comediene and he loved to cook.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Harrill Lamont "Lucky" Ruff; seven brothers, Leroy "Rabbit" Duncan , John Arthur "Chuck" Duncan, Willie "Bo" Duncan, Jimmy Duncan, Emanuel "Toot" Duncan, Charles "Charlie Horse" Surratt and Ernest Surratt; a sister, Rebecca Ann Degree and a special brother-in-law, Luther "Polly: Johnson.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Andrea "Ann" Ruff; a daughter, Renee Ruff-Parks (Travis) of Shelby, NC; a sister, Phyllis Ruff-Johnson; his mother-in-law, Willie Mae Poole Sawyer; two half sisters, Gloria Haynes (Al) of Cleveland, Ohio and Diane Ruff of Boston MA; a brother-in-law, Ronald Strong (Saundra); a sister-in-law, Charlene Surratt; a niece who was like a sister, Joann Odoms (Willie) of Shelby; 12 grandchildren, Akura, Akeem, Adriana, Adarius, Anayah, Zarionnea, Armani Ruff, Anastasia Woods, Dashon Falls, Jamale Brooks, Kenneth Crews, III, and Kaiden Parks; two great-grandchildren, Amelia Huertos and Zaylahni Ruff; special nephew, Twan Johnson; two special nieces, Tiffany and Tacola Johnson and a host of additional nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Green Bethel Baptist Church. Burial will take place at Sunset Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 PM until 2:00 PM on Friday and at other times at the home.