Alton "Ray" Duffield

Memorial services for Alton “Ray” Duffield will be held Friday, December 20th, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Reverend Charlie Shell officiating. Ray will be laid to rest with his mother at Moodys Cemetery in Moodys, OK. Online condolences for Ray’s family may be left at www.reedculver.com

Alton Ray Duffield, better known as Ray, was born August 8th, 1932 in Moodys, OK, the son of Eli and Mollie (Chaudoin) Duffield. He was raised around the Tahlequah area, after graduated high school, would go on to join the United States Navy. He proudly served his country as a Seaman First Class aboard the Hector AR 7, a repair ship that did repairs up and down the Korean coast as well as the California coast and the WestPac cruises, winning the Battle efficiency Plaque in both 1954 and 1955.he served honorably beginning in January 11th, 1952 until April 10th, 1956, and reserves from 1956 until 1958. He later began a career in the oil industry for Poole Oil Company as a rough neck, working long, hard hours on a job he loved. Ray’s true joy in life was his family. He married Betty Ann Thompson in Miami, OK in 1962 and this union was blessed with seven children, four sons and three daughters, David, James, Ronald, Charles, Margaret, Mary Kaye, and Jimmie Diane. Ray always kept his hands busy, whether tinkering around the in yard or tending to his garden, raising vegetables and the most beautiful tomatoes. Everyone loved to gather round to hear war stories of his time in the Navy, like any good sailor, the stories became a bit dramatic, but it made for really interesting stories. Playing dominoes or hanging out at the local VFW was a few of his favorite pastimes, spending time with his fellow servicemen. Ray was always full of life, cracking jokes and letting his ornery steak shine. There was nothing like time spent with family, especially surrounded by his best friends, his grandchildren. Of course, he couldn’t get far without his Canine sidekick, Pearl. He never missed an opportunity to join for a family gathering, some holiday festivities, good food and grandchildren. This loving father and grandfather passed from this life on Thursday, December 12th, 2019 in Tahlequah, OK at the age of 87. He leaves a vacant chair that can never be filled.

Those that have gone one before him include his wife, mom and dad, two sons, Ronald and Charles Duffield, one daughter, Margaret Dotson, grandson, Raymond James Dotson, and grandparents, John and Annie (Roach) Duffield and Jack and Louanna (Beamer)Chaudoin.

His memory lives on through his two sons, David Thompson and wife Carol Ann and James Duffield of Tahlequah, OK and two daughters, Mary Kaye Horawa of Oklahoma City, OK and Jimmie Diane Jones of Tahlequah, OK. He is survived by ten grandchildren, Dawn Sarnie and husband Robert of Oklahoma City, OK, Tammy Albrightson of El Reno, OK, Michael Dean Horawa of Oklahoma City, OK, Barbara Marie Horawa of Colorado, Todd Horawa of Oklahoma City, OK, Joni Lyons and husband Michael of North Carolina, Annie Duffield of New Mexico David Michael Thompson of Tahlequah, OK, and Jamie Duffield of Tahlequah, along with cherished great grandchildren, Deane Bamburg, Ashley and Jeremy Dreadfulwater, Jasmine and Britny Benitez, Aiyanna Sarnie, Jose Benitez III, Bradean, Jaci, Heath, Hayden, and Hesston Horawa and many nieces, nephews, cousins, his great great grandchildren and a host of friends and loved ones.