Ray pearson
My Story
Welcome to Finding Ray: Finding My Birth Father my personal website. My name is Janae and I am the product of two amazing artists who had a love affair in the 60s which in turn produced me. I was put up for adoption and later in life found my birth Mom and my birth father's legacy. The photo on the left is of Raymond Elbert Pearson or Ray Pearson who is my birth father. Other than vague memories and fascinating stories told by those I have been lucky enough to find who were close to him, some amazing artwork left in his wake and information as to where he has been laid to rest... it's as if he never existed.
The ultimate invisible man.
This website has been created to tell his story as I uncover it, tell my story, share his incredible artwork and ultimately find Ray Pearson by way of
finding those who knew him.
I find it ironic, uncanny and sad how a man of his background, education and talent isn't documented. He served his country, he was an amazing artist, an animator for Disney and so much more.
I have high hopes in finding others who loved this man as much as I do so I can tell his complete story and keep his legacy alive and visible.
Some of what I know:
- He is laid to rest in Punch Bowl Vets Cemetery in Hawaii. The National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific.
- He is a Navy Vet of the Korean War.
- He was possibly married and I may have half siblings residing in Hawaii. His wife may currently still be alive and residing in Hawaii.
- He was a very talented painter and artist who couldn't catch a break.
- He was one of the first Black Animators at Disney to be hired in the mid to late 50s. The other 2 , most notable, were Floyd Norman and Lionel Forniss.