Dorothy Elizabeth Ray

Tahlequah, Ok- Mass of Christian Burial for Dorothy Elizabeth Ray will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Tahlequah, OK with Father Leo Ahanotu officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 from Noon until 7:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. Interment will be with her husband George Ray at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery in Ft. Gibson, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Dorothy Elizabeth Ray was born on October 23rd, 1924 in Cottonwood, ID, the daughter of Aloysius Constantine and Marie Duman. She was joined by thirteen brothers and sisters. She grew up in Idaho where she worked on the farm. When WWII broke out, she went to work at a woolen factory, making those famous green wool army blankets. While attending a dance one night, she met the man who was to win her hand and her heart, George Ray, and they married on May 13th, 1946 in Salem, OR. Together, they would raise four children, Karen, Gary, Sandra, and Jody. Following the war, they would return once again to Oklahoma, and raise their family in the Warner community. When she wasn’t taking care of her husband and children, you would find Dorothy working in her garden or volunteering for everything from Food Pantry Service to Ladies Hospital Auxiliary. She was gifted with a needle and did a lot of sewing and made clothing for her family. She was a gifted artist and painted in oils, fixed fences, and even built her own kitchen. There wasn’t much Dorothy couldn’t do once she made up her mind to. You knew you were in for a treat if you went to her kitchen and smelled her homemade cinnamon rolls and goulash. She loved nature and tagged along with George on fishing trips and spent time in the yard watching her hummingbirds. She loved her grandchildren and couldn’t wait to take them in her arms, plenty of hugs and kisses from Granny. Dorothy was loving, kind and generous. She loved people and walked the extra mile to make them feel at home or just to let them know she cared. She was a devout Catholic and attended Mass at St. Brigid faithfully. She served in the Womens Guild and worked to make sure every family in the parish was cared for. She was devoted to her church family and was highly thought of. Dorothy was parted from her husband by his death, in 2001. She remained in the town of Tahlequah, surrounded by her loving family and her friends. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her labors on Sunday, May 31st, 2015 in Tahlequah, OK with her family at her side. Dorothy was 90 years old. She will be greatly missed, but we are all blessed for having had Dorothy in our lives.

Dorothy has gone home to join her grandparents, parents, her husband George, and her brothers and sisters, Clarence Duman, Edward Duman, Hank Duman, John Duman, Richard Duman, Paul Duman, Jim Duman, Margaret Lowers, Irene Kesegich, and Marianne Dalcolletto.

Those left to cherish her memory include her beloved children, Karen Harrington and husband Gary of Tahlequah, OK, Gary Ray of Tahlequah, OK, Sandra Lawrence and husband David of Westbrook, ME, and Jody Hermanson of Tahlequah, OK. Her passion for life and her legacy lives on in six grandchildren, Denna Girdner and companion Jake Mayfield of Ft. Gibson, OK, Susan Weeks of Enid, OK, Mindy Frost of Maine, Ashley Oats and husband Richard of Tahlequah, OK, and Heather Rogero and husband Walter of Arlington, WV. She leaves seven great grandchildren, Zach Weeks, of Enid, Greg Frost and Josh Frost of Maine, Haileigh Hermanson of Sulphur, OK, Anna Rogero and Marybeth Rogero of Arlington, WV, and Noble Rogero also of Arlington, WV. She leaves two brothers Robet Duman, Clifford Duman, Sister Regina Jones of California, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.