William Raymond Hopper Jr.

William Raymond Hopper, Jr. was born May 2, 1953 in Denver, Colorado. Named after his father William Raymond Hopper, Sr., he was known to many as Ray. He was blessed with the love of two mothers, Hazel Lee Garrison Gillespie and Odie Elma Roland. He attended Denver Public Schools including George Washington High School and received his GED and Basic Computer Operations Certification at Sheridan High School in Wyoming.

Ray enlisted in the United States Army at age 20 during the Vietnam era. He served two years as a Private First Class and was honorably discharged. During his time in the service, he served overseas in Germany. Ray was a multi-channel communications radio mechanic and equipment operator. He received the National Defense Service Medal.

After the military Ray worked in various jobs including positions at Denver Public Library as a Library Circulation Clerk and Denver Public Schools as a Paraprofessional Computer Lab Instructor, but Ray’s passion was for music. Ray was a true prodigy. Honored as part of the “High School All City – All State” in music, Ray was well known for his exceptional skills on the keyboard. During his long musical career, he played in several bands including the Royal Tones, Bass Productions, and Mighty Joe Young & the Dirty Dozens. He also played with the late-great Curtis Hightower, the flutist. Ray performed locally, nationally and internationally as a keyboardist. Known locally as ‘Ray’ to family and friends, he was affectionately called the “The Grasshopper” by many of his fellow musicians.

Ray received numerous honors for his musical talents. In 2011, he was honored by the National Veterans Creative Arts competition in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He received the Silver medal for Competition for Instrumental Solo Jazz/Rhythm & Blues and the Silver medal for Original Instrumental in the Performing Arts, Music Division. When interviewed, Ray said, “The creative arts are a good way to have confidence in yourself and value appreciation for others.” In keeping true to his passion and values, he was also honored by the Governor of the State of Arkansas in 2011 as an ‘Arkansas Traveler’ and was “commissioned to serve as an Ambassador of Good Will from Arkansas to the people of other states, the people of nations beyond the borders of the United States or wherever this Ambassador of Arkansas may hereafter travel or reside.”

In 2014, Ray placed 1st in the Vocal and Band category with the Eastern Colorado Health Care System. He was also honored by Kroenke Sports Charities (Denver Nuggets) in appreciation of his efforts in support of our United States Armed Forces.

William Ray Hopper, Jr. was baptized June 14, 1998 at New Beginning Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. An active participant in the Denver faith community, Ray provided musical support to multiple local churches, including Word Up Christian Center Church. For the past eight years, Ray loved sharing his musical gifts during weekly services and programs at Quincy Place, the senior living community he called home. According to fellow residents, Ray was a person with a “loving heart” and had a “caring soul” and his joyful disposition will be truly missed.

Ray was married briefly in Kansas but had no children from the union. He passed from this life on August 10, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love and joy through his music.

Ray was preceded in death by his father William R. Hopper and his mother, Hazel Lee Garrison Gillespie and his other mother, Odie Elma Roland, brother Donald Lee Gillespie and sister Sandra Ophelia Gillespie Davis.

He is survived by his sisters, Patricia Trotman (husband Monroe), Gwendolyn Love, Henrietta Forn (deceased husband Marvin), and by brothers Eugene Sanford, Martin Sanford (wife Sherrie), and Harold E. Gillespie (wife JoAnne). He also leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.

Ray will be missed by his family and friends and all the lives he touched through his music.