WASHINGTON – Monday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) honored the life of Mitchell resident Ray Lindsey during a speech on the U.S. Senate floor. Lindsey donated a kidney to save another Hoosier’s life in 2014. Yesterday, Lindsey passed away after a battle with cancer.
Below are Senator Young’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
In May of 2013, one of my constituents – Bob Evans from Lawrence County – was placed on the Kidney Transplant List.
His particular kidney ailment was hereditary, meaning families members who might have been a match could not donate.
So Bob was left waiting for someone to step forward. Unbeknownst to Bob, an acquaintance, Ray Lindsey, quietly went to get tested.
Ray took several days off work, traveling three hours round trip to Indianapolis to see if he would be a match.
He was and only then did Ray tell Bob what he had been up to. In the summer of 2014, Ray donated a kidney and saved Bob’s life.
Yesterday, Ray, one of the most selfless people I have ever met, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ray was a humble and unassuming family man with a sense of humor. On his Facebook page, he called himself a “part-time hillbilly.”
Ray worked hard, and by the way, didn’t get any compensation for the weeks he had to take off work while recuperating from surgery.
Ray’s sacrifice has made a lasting impact on public policy.
His story impacted and informed my interest in organ donation policy.
I introduced legislation to incentivize new breakthroughs in kidney disease treatment options. In 2018, the Trump Administration created a similar program called KidneyX.
We know Ray saved one life, but his story and selflessness impacted potentially thousands more.
Bob, by the way, is still going strong today, eight years after the transplant surgery.
Ray was a man of deep faith. And I can think of no better tribute to Ray than the words found in John chapter 15:
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Ray lived those words and I, and countless others will miss him deeply.
I offer my condolences to all who loved Ray, including his wife, Debbie; three children; and eight grandchildren.
Ray’s incredible life and impact will never be forgotten.
Ray’s funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m.. on Friday, April 1, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Bedford with Pastor Jason Filler officiating. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Bedford. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes, Bedford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ferguson-Lee Chapel to assist the family with funeral expenses.
