Hi, I’m Laura Ray. I went to Murray High and graduated from Murray State. I currently work from home for a digital publishing company out of St. Louis called Gateway Blend. I love music and books and nature and going on adventures. During quarantine, I started gardening and learned how to play the ukulele.
I’ve lived in Atlanta, Lexington, the Bay Area, San Diego, and Austin. After moving from Texas, my husband and I rambled about the Midwest in a camper for a couple of years before settling here in Murray to be closer to family. (And let’s be real, the cost of living was a huge draw.)
I love how Murray is finally getting some big-city conveniences (hello Starbucks!) while still hanging on to that small-town charm. We’re pretty lucky to live here, you know? Not everyone has a state park, a national recreation area, and a lake in their backyard.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband Will and I went to school together at Murray, same grade and everything. I attended his first “wedding” on the playground, but we got married in our backyard in 2018. Our cat is our only child. She’s an eight year old Tortoiseshell named Livy.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I’ve written for several websites and was an editor for Oola.com, but I’m currently a Content Strategist for TravelAwaits.com, a travel site that’s geared toward the 50 and up crowd. I love learning about new places, but one of the hazards of the job is the severe wanderlust that it induces. My travel bucket list keeps growing by the day!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Chef Bradley Thornton at Murray Country Club is the best chef in Murray. Nick Buckingham left the country club to open Artisan Kitchen and has been making magic with chef Sara Watkins ever since. I LOVE their Buddha bowls.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My mom and I moved here in 1986, so I was raised here. My first job was at Food Giant. I moved around a bunch in my 20s and 30s and eventually returned to finish school. I hosted trivia here during college. My husband and I bought a house out by Irvin Cobb four years ago. I’ve been working remotely since 2015.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I’m going to embarrass Melanie A. Davis, but she is so freakin’ talented. I knew her as a local singer/songwriter, but got to work with her as a writer for Oola.com. From embroidery to egg-glassing, she just knows so much about so much for such a young person. And she’s a literal rockstar, so there’s that š
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Oh man, like I said, my bucket list is growing exponentially! I’ve never been to Canada, and I just found out you can take a train from one side to the other. Amtrak’s Classic Canada Coast to Coast trip starts in Halifax and stops in MontrĆ©al, Toronto, and Niagara Falls before heading toward the Canadian Rocky Mountains and ending in Vancouver.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My favorite movie is Empire Records (open ’til midnight). My favorite show will forever and always be Friends, but I’m currently bingeing Home Town, which is an HGTV show starring Ben and Erin Napier on Discovery+. During quarantine I watched all 13 seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as the six seasons of All Stars. #obsessed
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Be present.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
White water rafting!
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Fruition is my fallback, but my fave local musicians are Fate McAfee and his lovely fiancƩ, the aforementioned Melanie A. Davis as well as S.G. Goodman, and Clayton Boaz.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Martha’s reminds me of my grandpa, Herbert Hughes, who would go there to drink coffee and spill the tea every morning.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I’m obsessed with RuPaul, but I’d probably be too nervous to eat, so I’m gonna go with comedian Karen Kilgariff. She cohosts the podcast My Favorite Murder. In addition to being hilarious, the show promotes mental health, which we are all slowly coming to realize is just as important, and inextricably linked to, physical health. We’d go to Dumplins’ and SSDGM with some fruit tea and rolls.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I just went to the farmers’ market for the first time since the pandemic started and it felt so good to see so many friendly faces. I went home with full shopping bags and a full heart!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
We live on 35 acres out by the lake, so I don’t see us moving anywhere any time soon.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I quit smoking and drinking in 2020. I’m so proud of myself and feel so much better!
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Greece. One of my BFFs, Lauren Hines, is the Spanish teacher at Murray High, so I got to tag along on their summer trip as a chaperone a couple of years ago. Between the Dolomite mountains and the Greek Isles, there’s beauty literally everywhere you look.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Lake season is my favorite time of year here. We have a few boats and jet skis, so we stay on the lake all summer long.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My daily yoga practice. I do Yoga With Adriene, which you can find on YouTube or on the Find What Feels Good (FWFG) app. I love starting my morning off by taking care of my mind and body.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Shannon Davis Roberts inspires me to do more for our community. She’s “changing hearts through the arts” by spearheading the New South Arts Initiative. I’m super excited to be part of this organization. Robyn Pizzo also inspired me to become more active politically by joining the County Executive Committee.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Bleu de Chanel. I bought some for my husband, but I think I wear it more than he does.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Sweet tea, cicadas, and church bells.
