Ray Hall's Obituary
Oscar Ray Hall, son of Samuel Franklin and Anna Askenburg Hall, was born December 10, 1917, in Thayer, Missouri. He departed this life Tuesday, October 23, 2007, in St. John’s Hospital, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-nine years, ten months, and thirteen days. On November 1, 1943, he was united in marriage to Wilma Nadine Smallen, and to this union two sons were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wilma, on January 23, 2005; and six brothers, Link, Bob, Bill, Tenief, Charlie, and Lloyd; and two sisters Frances, and Lillian. Ray is survived by his two sons, Dennis Ray Hall, and his wife, Kris, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Stanley Gordon Hall, and his wife, Lori, of Anaheim, California; five grandchildren, Tracy Hall Hair, Laura LeeAnn Hall Baker, Kymnberly Hall MacKnight, Candice Hall Hostetler, and Kari Jo Hall Hahn; five great-grandchildren, Landon, Ethan, Jaxon, Taylor, and Ellie; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. He was born and raised in the Thayer, Missouri area, and then moved with his family to Doniphan, Missouri. He worked for Emerson Electric Company in St. Louis for several years before moving to Salem, Missouri in 1938. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army from June 9, 1942 until November 16, 1945, during World War II. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he returned to Salem, where he and Wilma made their home until moving to Lebanon, Missouri in 1948. Ray began a career with the Curtis Candy Company and was a successful sales representative for that company for thirty-nine years. Later in their lives, Ray and Wilma moved to Nixa, Missouri and then Springfield, before returning to Lebanon. Ray made his profession of faith in Christ and joined the First Baptist Church of Salem in the early 1940’s. After moving to Lebanon, he was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and then joined the First Baptist Church of Lebanon. While living in Nixa, Missouri, he and Wilma became members of North Nixa Baptist Church. He took great pride in his work and his salesmanship. He enjoyed spending time with his family and especially practicing baseball skills with children, hitting them “flies” and “grounders”. He and Wilma also greatly liked traveling and had many wonderful times with their friends, the Bratchers. Ray was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he made for his family and friends. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2007, in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Lebanon. Burial will be in the Lebanon Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri.
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