ɹˈeɪ dˈaɪd əvə hˈɑːɹt ɐtˈæk ɪn nˈæʃvɪl ˌɔn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi twˈɛnti wˈʌn, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv sˈɛvənti wˈʌn fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ɐ hˈʌntɪŋ tɹˈɪp.
Ray died of a heart attack in Nashville on January 21, 1986, at the age of 71 following a hunting trip.