Grandfather of Missouri Governor, Matt Blunt. Reverend O. Paul Ray passed away at the age of 81. He was born to Clinton C. Ray and Muriel (McKinley) Ray, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were two grandchildren, John David Stine and Elizabeth Jane Blunt.
He is survived by his wife, Betty (Hood) Ray, of the home; daughter, Linda Morris of Nevada, Missouri; Kathryn Stine and her husband, David, of Peculiar, Missouri; Roseann Blunt of Strafford, Missouri; and Mark Ray and his wife, Pam of Belton, Missouri. Paul enjoyed each of his nine grandchildren, Jeff Stine, Mark and Pam Stine, Kevin and Marla Morris, Christopher and Sarah Morris, (Missouri Governor) Matthew and Melanie Blunt, Amy Blunt and husband, Matthew Mosby, Andrew and Jill Blunt, Nicholas Ray and Tyler Ray; and also his 11 great-grandchildren.
Raised in the Round Grove area near Miller, Missouri, he graduated from Miller High School in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy serving in World War II.
On October 3, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Belle Hood. They enjoyed 63 years of married life together.
After leaving the military and farming for a short time, Paul felt called to the ministry and entered Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, with wife, Betty, and three small children.
Upon graduation from college, he began a career of teaching and pastoring small churches around southwest Missouri. A lifelong student, Paul attended college evenings and summers earning his Master's degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1964 and his Specialists degree from Central Missouri State University in 1974.
Paul and Betty began a new chapter in their life together when they moved to Denison, Iowa, where Paul taught education and supervised the student teacher program at Midwest College.
In 1970 Paul and Betty returned to Platte City, Missouri, where Paul was an educator and school administrator, first serving as an Elementary School Principal in the Platte City Public Schools, then moving to Belton, Missouri, to serve first as the Elementary Principal and later as the Elementary School Coordinator. He retired from that position, after serving for 14 years.
After retiring to Strafford, Missouri, Paul continued to preach and served as a pastor for several churches in the area. An avid genealogist, Paul along with Betty and other family members enjoyed many trips to Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia to research family history.
In 1998 his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University, recognized and honored him with a Life Service Award, in celebration and recognition of a life dedicated to Christ.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 5, in the First Baptist Church of Strafford, Missouri.
(Source: Springfield News-Leader)
He is survived by his wife, Betty (Hood) Ray, of the home; daughter, Linda Morris of Nevada, Missouri; Kathryn Stine and her husband, David, of Peculiar, Missouri; Roseann Blunt of Strafford, Missouri; and Mark Ray and his wife, Pam of Belton, Missouri. Paul enjoyed each of his nine grandchildren, Jeff Stine, Mark and Pam Stine, Kevin and Marla Morris, Christopher and Sarah Morris, (Missouri Governor) Matthew and Melanie Blunt, Amy Blunt and husband, Matthew Mosby, Andrew and Jill Blunt, Nicholas Ray and Tyler Ray; and also his 11 great-grandchildren.
Raised in the Round Grove area near Miller, Missouri, he graduated from Miller High School in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy serving in World War II.
On October 3, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Belle Hood. They enjoyed 63 years of married life together.
After leaving the military and farming for a short time, Paul felt called to the ministry and entered Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, with wife, Betty, and three small children.
Upon graduation from college, he began a career of teaching and pastoring small churches around southwest Missouri. A lifelong student, Paul attended college evenings and summers earning his Master's degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1964 and his Specialists degree from Central Missouri State University in 1974.
Paul and Betty began a new chapter in their life together when they moved to Denison, Iowa, where Paul taught education and supervised the student teacher program at Midwest College.
In 1970 Paul and Betty returned to Platte City, Missouri, where Paul was an educator and school administrator, first serving as an Elementary School Principal in the Platte City Public Schools, then moving to Belton, Missouri, to serve first as the Elementary Principal and later as the Elementary School Coordinator. He retired from that position, after serving for 14 years.
After retiring to Strafford, Missouri, Paul continued to preach and served as a pastor for several churches in the area. An avid genealogist, Paul along with Betty and other family members enjoyed many trips to Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia to research family history.
In 1998 his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University, recognized and honored him with a Life Service Award, in celebration and recognition of a life dedicated to Christ.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 5, in the First Baptist Church of Strafford, Missouri.
(Source: Springfield News-Leader)
Grandfather of Missouri Governor, Matt Blunt. Reverend O. Paul Ray passed away at the age of 81. He was born to Clinton C. Ray and Muriel (McKinley) Ray, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were two grandchildren, John David Stine and Elizabeth Jane Blunt.
He is survived by his wife, Betty (Hood) Ray, of the home; daughter, Linda Morris of Nevada, Missouri; Kathryn Stine and her husband, David, of Peculiar, Missouri; Roseann Blunt of Strafford, Missouri; and Mark Ray and his wife, Pam of Belton, Missouri. Paul enjoyed each of his nine grandchildren, Jeff Stine, Mark and Pam Stine, Kevin and Marla Morris, Christopher and Sarah Morris, (Missouri Governor) Matthew and Melanie Blunt, Amy Blunt and husband, Matthew Mosby, Andrew and Jill Blunt, Nicholas Ray and Tyler Ray; and also his 11 great-grandchildren.
Raised in the Round Grove area near Miller, Missouri, he graduated from Miller High School in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy serving in World War II.
On October 3, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Belle Hood. They enjoyed 63 years of married life together.
After leaving the military and farming for a short time, Paul felt called to the ministry and entered Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, with wife, Betty, and three small children.
Upon graduation from college, he began a career of teaching and pastoring small churches around southwest Missouri. A lifelong student, Paul attended college evenings and summers earning his Master's degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1964 and his Specialists degree from Central Missouri State University in 1974.
Paul and Betty began a new chapter in their life together when they moved to Denison, Iowa, where Paul taught education and supervised the student teacher program at Midwest College.
In 1970 Paul and Betty returned to Platte City, Missouri, where Paul was an educator and school administrator, first serving as an Elementary School Principal in the Platte City Public Schools, then moving to Belton, Missouri, to serve first as the Elementary Principal and later as the Elementary School Coordinator. He retired from that position, after serving for 14 years.
After retiring to Strafford, Missouri, Paul continued to preach and served as a pastor for several churches in the area. An avid genealogist, Paul along with Betty and other family members enjoyed many trips to Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia to research family history.
In 1998 his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University, recognized and honored him with a Life Service Award, in celebration and recognition of a life dedicated to Christ.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 5, in the First Baptist Church of Strafford, Missouri.
(Source: Springfield News-Leader)
He is survived by his wife, Betty (Hood) Ray, of the home; daughter, Linda Morris of Nevada, Missouri; Kathryn Stine and her husband, David, of Peculiar, Missouri; Roseann Blunt of Strafford, Missouri; and Mark Ray and his wife, Pam of Belton, Missouri. Paul enjoyed each of his nine grandchildren, Jeff Stine, Mark and Pam Stine, Kevin and Marla Morris, Christopher and Sarah Morris, (Missouri Governor) Matthew and Melanie Blunt, Amy Blunt and husband, Matthew Mosby, Andrew and Jill Blunt, Nicholas Ray and Tyler Ray; and also his 11 great-grandchildren.
Raised in the Round Grove area near Miller, Missouri, he graduated from Miller High School in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy serving in World War II.
On October 3, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Belle Hood. They enjoyed 63 years of married life together.
After leaving the military and farming for a short time, Paul felt called to the ministry and entered Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, with wife, Betty, and three small children.
Upon graduation from college, he began a career of teaching and pastoring small churches around southwest Missouri. A lifelong student, Paul attended college evenings and summers earning his Master's degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1964 and his Specialists degree from Central Missouri State University in 1974.
Paul and Betty began a new chapter in their life together when they moved to Denison, Iowa, where Paul taught education and supervised the student teacher program at Midwest College.
In 1970 Paul and Betty returned to Platte City, Missouri, where Paul was an educator and school administrator, first serving as an Elementary School Principal in the Platte City Public Schools, then moving to Belton, Missouri, to serve first as the Elementary Principal and later as the Elementary School Coordinator. He retired from that position, after serving for 14 years.
After retiring to Strafford, Missouri, Paul continued to preach and served as a pastor for several churches in the area. An avid genealogist, Paul along with Betty and other family members enjoyed many trips to Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia to research family history.
In 1998 his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University, recognized and honored him with a Life Service Award, in celebration and recognition of a life dedicated to Christ.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 5, in the First Baptist Church of Strafford, Missouri.
(Source: Springfield News-Leader)
