Roy "Papa" Ray Henson

Roy Ray Henson was born April 2, 1943 at home in Lost City, Oklahoma to Jim and Lucille Henson. He departed this life for a new one on December 26, 2016 at the age of 73 years, 8 months and 24 days. He attended school at Hinton and Hulbert where he graduated with the Class of 1961. He met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Yeager, in Peggs in 1965, and the two were wed on February 19, 1966 at the Peggs Community Church.

For the last 50 years, he played the bass guitar for Southern Gospel groups and traveled from California to North Carolina and all points in between. His favorite place to play was at home in his very own music room. He has been called the best bass player in Cherokee County on multiple occasions. Playing music for the Lord was his passion and his lifeline.

Roy was also an Iron Worker for over 35 years and was a member of the Iron Workers Local Union 584. He was a hard worker and made sure his family was always taken care of.

Roy was a lifelong resident of Cherokee County. He enjoyed catching crawdads and eating wild onions. He loved family gatherings, hog frys, and going to singings. He also liked to go bowling and was an avid OU Sooners fan. He had a lot of friends and never met a stranger.

He is survived by his wife of 50 plus years, Mary Ellen, of the home; his three daughters, Cathy and Paul Bartlett of Locust Grove, Debbie and Jesse Grimes of Midwest City, and Tammie and Jamy Walker of Louisburg, Kansas; his brothers, Ed and Margaret Henson of Broken Arrow, Luther and Doris Henson, Don Henson, and his sisters, Leda and Steve Whitekiller and Hudy and Larry Jones, all of Hulbert; his thirteen grandchildren, Nichole, Jonathan and Darren Henson, Jeff and Daniel Bartlett, Christopher and Nathan Smith, Lee, Brandon and Faith Karr, Rachel Henson, and Meagan and Brittany Walker; eighteen great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Watie and Paul Henson, one sister, Loretta Henson, three nephews Tommy Henson, Randy Yeager, and Henry Yeager, a sister-in-law, Lucille Henson, and a brother-in-law, Raymond Yeager.