Ray, Thomas A. Jr.

Photo - Thomas A. Ray, Jr., Commerce Oklahoma, died at 3:50 p Tuesday Feb 8, 2000, at St. John's Hospital, Joplin Missouri, after a long illness. He was 75. Mr. Ray was born Sep 17, 1924, in Lincolnville Oklahoma, east of Quapaw Oklahoma, to Thomas A. Ray, Sr. and Dee Crabtree Ray. He attended school in Quapaw and was a member of the class of 1943. At an early age, he worked in the lead and zinc mines throughout the Tri-State area. The majority of his working life was spent with the Eagle-Picher Mining Company. After 25 years of mining, he worked for eight years with the Eagle-Picher Research Lab, later transferring to the Eagle-Picher Boron Plant, Quapaw, where he retired in 1986 after 44 years with the company. He was very proud of his Indian heritage and was a member of the Quapaw Tribe...He married his school sweetheart, Billie Pritchard, on Dec 13, 1942. She preceded him in death in Sep 1990. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles Ray. He married Betty Weston on Dec 30, 1991, in Branson Missouri. She survives, of the home. Additional survivors include a son and his wife, Tom Ray and JoAnn Ray; two daughters and their husbands, Judy Rogers and Bill Rogers, Commerce, and Karolyn McDaniel and Bob McDaniel, North Miami Oklahoma; two step-sons and their wives, Doug Weston and Cynthia Weston, Miami, and Rocky Weston and Diane Weston, Tahlequah Oklahoma; four brothers, Ahniwake Ray, Grants New Mexico, Bill Ray and John Ray, both of Galena Illinois, and Vernon Ray, Claire Illinois; two sisters Faye Nelle Plummer, Rockland California, and Deanna McCarthy, Cuba City Wisconsin; 17 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren... Mr. Ray's brothers-in-law will conduct the service with the Rev. George Clay officiating assisted by the Rev. Jim Clay and Larry Clay. Burial is in G.A.R. cemetery at Miami ... Pallbearers are Gary Acton, Tom Gilbert, the Rev. Jerry Von Moss, Tommy Dickson, Ranny McWatters, and Larry Kelly. Honorary pallbearers are Claudie Tune, Billy Mills, Fred Von Moss, Leon Stepp, George Trolinger, and Jesse McKibben...the service is under the direction of the Thomas funeral home, Welch Oklahoma.