Obituary for Leroy Ray

Leroy James Ray

October 31, 1938 – August 25, 2019

Leroy James Ray of Braman, Oklahoma, died Sunday evening, August 25, 2019, at his home at the age of 80 years.

Leroy James Ray was born October 31, 1938 in Blackwell, Oklahoma to Lester and Opal (Sodowksy) Ray. The family lived in Blackwell until they moved to Braman to farm. He attended schools in Blackwell and Braman and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1956. He was a gifted athlete playing football, basketball and track. While in high school he qualified for the Junior Olympics in the shotput. A friend and he, Aubrey Dooley, hitched-hiked to Houston, Texas to participate and Leroy won second place nationally. Following graduation he was offered a scholarship to play football at Northern Oklahoma Junior College where he played in the backfield until breaking his leg which ended his college career. Leroy then started working at Blackwell Zinc Company. Shortly thereafter he married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Taylor and settled in Braman, Oklahoma. Leroy and Sharon were blessed with four children, Keith, Bob, Shari and Jeff. They started with a seven acre farm outside of Braman while Leroy continued to work at Blackwell Zinc. The couple grew the seven acres into a successful farming operation. Leroy enjoyed bowling and golf with highlights including a perfect score of 300 in bowling and a hole in one on hole #2 at the Blackwell Country Club. Leroy and Sharon loved to travel as long as he wasn’t on a plane. He loved his community and visiting with his friends from the Braman Café. He was proud of his children’s accomplishments. When the grandchildren came along he enjoyed watching their antics and often encouraged their ornery behavior much to the dismay of their grandmother. Leroy enjoyed living in the Braman community surrounded by his family and friends. He was a member of the Braman United Methodist Church and served as a trustee during the building of the current church. He also served on the Braman School Board.

Survivor include his wife, Sharon Ray of Braman; sister, Louise Alexander of Frisco, Texas; brother-in-law, Jerry (Sally) Johnston of Braman; sons, Keith (Diane) Ray of Braman, Bob (Judy) Ray of Tulsa, and Jeff (Jennifer) Ray of Verdigris;, daughter, Shari (Ed) Dalal of Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren, Russell (Salome) Ray of Stillwater, Brittany Ray of Oklahoma City; Kylie Ray of Moore, Jordan Dalal of Denver, Colorado, Kelsey Ray of Tulsa, Ashtyn Dalal of Orlando, Florida, Arynn Dalal of Chicago, Illinois, and Brylee, Brooklyn and Bryson Ray of Verdigris.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Karen Ray; sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnston; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan and Dean Davison; nephew, Mike Davison; and brother-in-law, Walter Alexander.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 30th in the Braman United Methodist Church with Rev. Cap McIlnay officiating. Burial will follow in the Braman Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Mickey Avery, Keith Ray, Bob Ray, Jeff Ray, Ed Dalal, Jordan Dalal, Russell Ray and Bryson Ray. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Brittany Ray, Kylie Ray, Kelsey Ray, Ashtyn Dalal, Arynn Dalal, Brylee Ray and Brooklyn Ray.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the Braman United Methodist Church Community Food Pantry in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.