When Ray Harrison Parmelee was born in July 1888, his father, Linus, was 36 and his mother, Ella, was 36. He had two brothers and one sister. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Private in Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on May 29, 1918 and is now buried in Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France. He also has a cenotaph built for him in Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA (Block 10, Lot 41). His name is inscribed on the Cantigny monument as PVT R H PARMELES.