Hester Agnes Ray

Hester Harris Keel Ray arrived on this earth in the pine hills of North Carolina on November 11, 1921. A life-long Christian, she went to be with her Lord on August 16, 2010. Surrounded by the loving Harris family, she grew up in the Gum Springs, N.C. Baptist Church which was founded by her ancestors in 1834 and was pastored by her grandfather during her youth. Locally, she was a long-time, active member of Highland Park Baptist Church in Edmond. She served as a Sunday school teacher and was once the chairperson of the building committee. She enjoyed creating and sewing themed banners which hung behind the pulpit. Hester was a gentle, peaceful, joyful woman who will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother Lexie Harris Cheek and step-father Jack Cheek. She was also preceded in death by two loving husbands. She lost her first husband, Lewis Gibson Keel, in 1986 after forty-three years of marriage. Her second husband, Samuel McKeel “Mac” Ray, passed in 2007 after fourteen years of marriage. Her second marriage greatly extended her family ties and brought her much happiness.

She is survived by three children and three step-children: Dayna McCoy and husband Larry from Bartlesville; Sherri Hancock and husband, Jim from California; Don Keel and wife, Joyce from Edmond; step-sons Rob and Dutch Ray from Sapulpa; Jack and Lynn Ray from Arizona; and Bill Ray and Carmen from Missouri.

Gommy, as she was affectionately known in the family, is also survived by six grandchildren and spouses, four step-grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Highland Park Baptist Church, 400 N. Blackwelder, Edmond, OK on Friday, August 20, 2010 at 11:00 AM.

Any memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (www.omrf.org), the Highland Park Baptist Church Building Fund (www.highlandparkedmond.org), or the charitable organization of your choice.