John Peebles' Obituary
Services are incomplete and under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Return to top Ray, Cecil, 83 Cecil Darrell Ray, son of Charles B. and Flossie Elizabeth Wakefield Ray was born March 4, 1924 in Binger, Oklahoma. He departed this life Friday, November 30, 2007, in St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-three years, eight months, and twenty-six days. On February 21, 1948, he was united in marriage to Viva Jean Childers, and to this union, three daughters and one son were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Roy; one sister, Marie Chambers; and a great-granddaughter, Elissa Hunt. Cecil is survived by his wife, Viva Jean, of the home; three daughters, Jeannie Weaver, Patricia Heafley, and her husband, Van Allen, and Sharon Stone, and her husband, Joseph, all of Lebanon, Missouri; and one son, Kennith Ray, and his wife, Melva, of Lebanon, Missouri; nineteen grandchildren, Kim, Kevin, Doyle, Teressie, Alice, Kendra, Robert, Teri, Regina, Bill, Ginger, Joe, Bobby, Garrett, Katie, Sabbath, Kenny, Skyler, and Katie; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Don Ray, and his wife, Joyce, of Gadsden, Alabama; one sister, Freida Bibbs, and her husband, Harold, of Van Buren, Arkansas; a number of nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and many friends. He spent his early years in Oklahoma and Arkansas before moving to La Habra, California where he worked on a ranch for several years. Cecil and Viva Jean moved back to the Lebanon area in 1963 and he worked in landscaping at Fort Leonard Wood. He then started to work at the Lowe Boat Company and continued there until retirement. Cecil was a self-educated person and enjoyed reading all kinds of material including encyclopedias. He loved politics and could discuss the subjects very intelligently. He had many interests including gardening, playing the harmonica, the fiddle, and he loved to spend time with his family. Cecil will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and a caring neighbor and friend. We treasure his accomplishments and the memories he made for his family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 6, 2007, in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Lebanon. Burial will be in the Hufft Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Memorials to the Hufft Cemetery may be made through the funeral home. Return to top
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