Rev. Paul Wayne Ray

Funeral services for Rev. Paul Wayne Ray will be held Monday, August 9, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Lighthouse Holiness Church of Prague, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at the Oakdale Cemetery in Paden, Oklahoma. Rev. Paul Wayne Ray was born May 30, 1928 north of Paden, Oklahoma to Rufus Ray and Maud Etta (Morgan) Ray. He passed away Thursday, August 5, 2021 at his home in Paden, Oklahoma at the age of 93. Rev. Ray was a longtime resident of Paden. He and Karen Garrett were married December 9, 1983 in Miami, Oklahoma. They enjoyed 37 years and almost 8 months centered around church, traveling, evangelizing and working in the country of Haiti. Wayne attended school in Paden-West VanZant, Buckeye School and lived at Horseshoe Bend in the 8th grade and later attended Paden High School for 9th and 10th grade. He later received an honorary high school diploma in 2014. In 1944, Wayne worked on the El Toro Marine Air Base south of Santa Anna, California at the age of 15 and 16 during WWII. He had various occupations over his lifetime consisting of carpenter, roughneck in the oilfield, mail carrier, minister, evangelist, pastor and missionary. He preached his first sermon at the age of 17-18 years old at Micawber in a tent meeting under Bro. White and Bro. York’s gospel tent preaching on “Charity”. Wayne got his bible education traveling with Bro. Willis Upperman over the country. He pastored Paden Holiness Church, Burnett Mission, Old Mission Church, Coweta, OK, Lonestar Church in Vilas, CO and Quigley Holiness Church in Marion, Louisiana. In 1979, Wayne lost his heart to the country of Haiti and began to faithfully labor there creating orphanages / schools and building churches. Operating at present, four orphanages/schools plus various outreaches to families providing food and schooling individually and providing finances for a medical clinic in Jacmel, Haiti. Haiti stayed uppermost in his mind as he loved and was concerned for the Haitian people. He continued with the work there to the very end. He guided tours to Israel and was baptized in the Jordan River and traveled to many different countries. Wayne was a cowboy at heart owning and riding various horses over the years. His favorite being “Babe” that he kept until she died around 32-33 years old. He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen Lorene (Wilson) Ray of 37 years and 5 months; 15 siblings; George, Ravia, Fred, Iva Mae, Burl, Earl, Woody, Lucy, Wenfred, Margie, Vynola, Bess, Es and Glyndale; one granddaughter, Regina and one great-grandson, Codee. Survivors include his wife, Karen Ray of the home; three sons, Paul Wayne Ray Jr. and wife Rita of Thomasville, Georgia, Ronnie Ray of Choctaw, Oklahoma and Jimmy Ray and wife Jena of Paden; three daughters, Paula Hess of Blanchard, Oklahoma, Reta Bohn and husband Robert of Fouke, Arkansas and Jeana Dobry and husband Wayne of Ruidoso, New Mexico; 10 grandchildren, Tammy, Jerry, Paul, Rob, Laramy, Jeremy, Lore, Richard, Mistin and Angel; 21 great-grandchildren, Anthony, Trista, Eric, Emma, Charles, Helen, Preston, Everly, Cameron, Cruz, Reagan, Ethan, Conner, Chloe, Dakota, Claire, Eli, Colby, Lilah, Charlee and Cora and three great-great-grandchildren, Aspen, Tigh and Eddie. Serving as active pallbearers will be Jeremy Hess, Laramy Bohn, Dakota Bohn, Richard Ray, Eric Newman and Jerry Ray. Honorary bearers include Bryan Logan, Aaron Brock, Curtis Watts, Daryl Brewer, Stanley Brown and Wendell Brown. Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah, Oklahoma and officiated by Bro. Lloyd Shuecraft, Bryan Logan, Aaron Brock, Curtis Watts and Daryl Brewer. Online condolences may be made at www.ParksBrothersFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers donations are welcome to the Ray’s Missionary Outreach at PO Box 186, Paden, OK 74860.

Rev. Paul Wayne Ray

May 30, 1928 - August 5, 2021