NILES — A reserve police officer who died last Sunday was known by friends and colleagues to never hesitate when it came to helping others.

On the evening of Sept. 8, Kenny Ray, of Niles, died in a motorcycle accident. Ray had been riding his bike in Niles with a passenger when a cat went across the road. Ray moved to avoid it, lost control of his vehicle and crashed.

The reserve police sergeant, pest control company supervisor and AMVETS leader was 49.

“It doesn’t surprise me that he swerved to miss a cat because his nature was so gentle,” said Keri Witte, the commander of AMVETS Post 1978 in Niles.

Witte was a friend and colleague of Ray, who was involved with the veteran organization for about five years.

Ray was elected to be the commander of the local Sons of AMVETS chapter in May. In August, he was elected to serve as the vice commander for the new local AMVETS Rider’s chapter, which he helped plan and charter.

Ray worked closely with Witte to implement fundraisers and benefits to help make the organization become as great as possible, she said.

“Our post has suffered a great loss,” Witte said. “I would say one of the greatest losses we’ve ever experienced.”

Ray was known in the AMVETS community to always be available to help, she said. There was no benefit or fundraiser he would not participate in if time allowed, and he was known to often overextend himself to help.

“He was very passionate about community service,” Witte said. “I would call him truly a pillar of our community.”

Bob Seske shared similar sentiments to Witte’s. Seske worked with Ray for about 12 years at Rose Pest Solutions in Niles Charter Township. Ray was a supervisor and Seske is a manager.

“Kenny always wanted to make life better for somebody else, whether that was training technicians, helping clients, figuring out or solving issues going on, or listening to issues they were facing,” he said.

Ray had been on staff since 2000. When Seske joined in 2007, they became friends “right off the bat.”

“He was just one of those guys that when the majority of people met him, they became friends with him,” Seske said.

He added that people saw Ray as a person they could rely on, trust and confide in. He often brought a smile to peoples’ faces.

Witte said Ray was hardly seen without a smile himself.

“The thing that I’m going to miss most is his laugh,” she said. “He had a loud, boisterous, contagious laugh that lifted up the room.”

Niles Police Captain Kevin Kosten remembered Ray’s sense of humor, too. Yet, when duty called, the reserve sergeant was able to become serious and get the job done.

“He was very willing to come in and assist the department in whatever they needed just at a moment’s notice,” Kosten said.

As a reserve officer, Ray volunteered his own time to help the Niles Police Department. Like other reserves, he helped the department with everyday duties, from road patrols, to sports game and event security, to being an extra set of eyes and ears in the community.

As a sergeant, Ray oversaw other reserves. He helped schedule their commitments and provided them the training, equipment and information necessary to properly serve.

Kosten, who has served at the department for 22 years, said Ray volunteered “thousands of thousands” of hours to what he called his “second family.”

Ray’s second family will miss him, Kosten said.

“He definitely represented the police department well,” Kosten said.

Ray supported his wife, children and grandchildren, too.

Witte said he was one of the most loyal people she had met. Ray would often talk about his family while at the AMVETS post or at meetings.

People can support Ray’s family and celebrate Ray’s life by attending a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. this Friday at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services at 521 E. Main St. in Niles.

Flowers can be sent at brownfuneralhomeniles.com, and Witte recommended financially supporting Ray’s family.

Ray’s funeral service will be hosted at Brown’s at 10 a.m. this Saturday. His burial will be at Mission Hills Memorial Community Chapel, Crematory & Gardens at 61453 M-51 in Pokagon Township.

The Niles AMVETS post is planning to host a dinner service after.