Wray D. Hamil

WRAY D. HAMIL, age 86, passed away on July 4, 2015, as a result of complications from a fall at home. He was born on March 2, 1929, in San Antonio, Texas, to Earl and Annie Vinsent Hamil. Wray graduated from Concordia University in Austin, TX, and St. John’s College in St. Louis, MO. He was employed in the mechanical power transmission business with Rexnord & Jackson Industrial during his early career years, and became a U.S. Postal contractor prior to retirement. Wray will be remembered for his love of family and friends, pleasure of travel to foreign lands, good food and drink, and above all, the telling of “corney” jokes, as we have all endured (with a wink) over the years. He never met a stranger, or, at least, he wasn’t a stranger for long. Wray retained quick wit and strong intelligence, and was the happiest at telling every detail of an Astro’s win, but didn’t say much when they lost.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Diane Hamil; sister and brother-in-law, Anne and Dick Kuhlmann; and brother, “Buddy” Hamil. Wray is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Sandra Hamil; daughters, Cynthia Meadows, Jeanette Hamil, and Mimi Nelson; grandchildren, Nathan Foltz and his wife Abby, Katie Foltz, J.P. Gaudet and his wife Jordan, Stephanie Gaudet, Brandy Anderman and her husband Kyle, and Trey Nelson; great-grandchildren, Isla, Brady Wray, David, Vicki, Jayden, Sebastian, Juliette, and Madeleine; stepson, Greg Starks and his wife Rona; granddaughter, Courtney Starks; and many other loving relatives and friends. His constant buddies were his Yorkie pups, Roxxi and Heidi.

Wray is now in heaven. His health has been restored and we will see him again one day. Until then, “rest in peace dear Hamil.”

A Memorial Celebration of Wray’s life will be held at 4:00 PM, Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land

(Williams Trace Exit), with the Rev. Richard Wagner, officiating. A reception will immediately follow the service @ Settegast-Kopf.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Wray’s memory be made to Concordia University @ www.concordia.edu, the Houston Humane Society @ www.houstonhumane.org, or to a charity of your choice.

"The Song of the River"

-William Randolph Hearst

The snow melts on the mountain

And the water runs down to the spring,

And the spring in a turbulent fountain,

With a song of youth to sing,

Runs down to the riotous river,

And the river flows on to the sea,

And the water again

Goes back in rain

To the hills where it used to be.

And I wonder if Life's deep mystery

Isn't much like the rain and the snow

Returning through all eternity

To the places it used to know.

For life was born on the lofty heights

And flows in a laughing stream

To the river below

Whose onward flow

Ends in a peaceful dream.

And so at last,

When our life has passed.

And the river has run its course,

It again goes back,

O'er the selfsame track,

To the mountain which was its source.

So why prize life

Or why fear death,

Or dread what is to be?

The river ran its allotted span

Till it reached the silent sea.

Then the water harked back

To the mountaintop

To begin its course once more.

So we shall run the course begun

Till we reach the silent shore,

Then revisit earth in a pure rebirth

From the heart of the virgin snow.

So don't ask why we live or die,

Or wither, or when we go,

Or wonder about the mysteries

That only God may know.