06/06/2026
Heritage Spotlight: W. Ray Gorsline (1892–1955)
As part of our Chapel Heritage Series, we honor W. Ray Gorsline, whose leadership helped shape our tradition of care in mid-Michigan.
Born in 1892, Ray was the son of Floyd A. Gorsline, who established F.A. Gorsline & Sons in Williamston in 1903. Following his father’s passing in 1945, Ray and his brother Claude carried forward the family business, guiding it through a time of great change.
Ray was active not only in Williamston, but also with the Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Home in Lansing, helping expand the family’s legacy of service to more communities. He bridged eras from the days of horse-drawn hearses to the modern mid-century funeral home... always with the highest standards of compassion and professionalism. He was a force of nature!
This portrait, painted in 1955 by Beaver Edwards, FRSA, the same year of Ray’s passing, stands as a tribute to his enduring impact.
For over half a century, the Gorsline family name has been linked with dignity, tradition, and care. W. Ray Gorsline’s legacy continues to live on in the families we serve today.
Celebrating lives well lived. That is our passion, our purpose, and our promise.