Dr. Albert Ray Niederer

Albert Ray Niederer August 5, 1938 April 22, 2011 On Good Friday, April 22, 2011, Dr. Albert Ray Niederer peacefully entered the life everlasting. Services will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at First Baptist Church of Waco with Dr. Matt Snowden and Dr. Randall Perry officiating. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room, 6101 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas. Ray was born Aug. 5, 1938, in Waco, Texas, to Gus Albert and Freda Gummelt Niederer. He grew up in Waco in the Central Baptist Church, graduating from Waco High School in 1956, where he played basketball. He then graduated from Baylor University in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. While at Baylor, he met the love of his life, Anna Waters, whom he married shortly after graduation July 23, 1960, and with whom he shared and enjoyed over 50 years of marriage. Ray attended and graduated from the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, S.D. and was ordained as a minister in 1963. He went on to serve as a minister at several Baptist churches across the United States, including Redeemer Baptist Church in Warren, Mich., Snowview Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, West Broadway Baptist Church in Enid, Okla., Calvary Baptist Church in Aberdeen, S.D., and Bethel Baptist Church in Anaheim, Calif. He touched the lives of many whom he served as a dedicated pastor. In 1970, Ray enrolled in the doctoral program in religion at Baylor University while serving as pastor for several small churches in Texas. In 1976, he earned his Ph.D. In 1983, due to illness, he returned to Waco and finished his career as a librarian where he served for about 20 years in the Waco Public Library system. He was also a member of First Baptist Church Waco. During his leisure time, he enjoyed golf and reading. He also especially loved traveling. Ray is survived by his wife, Ann of Waco; sister, Dorothy DeBorde of Tulsa, Okla.; daughter, Deborah and husband, John Saxon, of Castle Rock, Colo.; son, David and wife, Misty, of Martinsville, Ind.; and grandchildren, Megan and Peyton of Martinsville, Ind. Memorials may be made to the Baylor University Department of Religion Scholarship Fund or First Baptist Church Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.