Hal Wray

Hal Lynn Wray, 55, of Moran passed away early Tuesday morning March 24, 2009, at Menorah Hospital in Olathe, Kansas. He was surrounded by family and friends then, and in the days before his death. Wray was born on June 22, 1953, at Allen County Hospital, the son of Maurice C. and Dorothy E. Wray. He was baptized at the First Christian Church, grew up in the Iola area and graduated from Iola High School in 1971. On June 19, 1982, he married Angela Jackson in Iola. They made their home in rural Moran. Active in 4-H and FFA, Wray was a member of the Iola Marching Mustangs Band, played basketball and lettered in track. Upon graduation, he embarked on a career in truck driving at Iola Ready Mix. Wray subsequently worked with the City of Iola Electric Department, SeKan Asphalt, Allen County Livestock, Thompson and Thompson Auction Service and most recently, worked 15 years with Allen County Road and Bridge. At the time of his passing, Wray was the Foreman at the Allen County Quarry. Wray devoted many hours to community service. He was a current member of Elks Lodge No. 569, Past Commander for the Sons of the Legionnaires (SAL), and a member of Ducks Unlimited. For more than 30 years, he served the people of Iola as a volunteer fireman. He used his talent for making people laugh in the Clown Unit of the Iola Jaycees. Among the hobbies he enjoyed are dirt track racing, mud buggies and 4-wheeling. He and Angela owned horses and Hal especially enjoyed draft horses, draft mules, pulling and teams. He even surprised himself by becoming an ace Power Parachute pilot and a pretty darn good golfer. Wray was preceded in death by his father, Maurice Wray. In addition to his devoted wife, Angela of the home, Wray is survived by his mother, Dorothy Wray, Austin, Texas; brother, Glen Eric Wray, Fort Scott; brother, Michael Wray and his wife, Barbara, Austin, Texas; nephews Charlie, Claremont, Calif. and Scott, Prescott, Ariz., and his favorite and only niece, Kelly of Austin, Texas. He also leaves behind father-in-law Wayne Jackson, mother-in-law Norma Jackson of Iola and brother-in-law Jeff Jackson, LaHarpe. VISITATION: 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. FUNERAL SERVICE: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 28, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iola, KS. The Rev. Jim Rausch will officiate. Cremation will follow the services at a later date. PALLBEARERS: Randy Hurlock, Jon Hicks, John Womack, John Trembly, Bill Tefft, Eric Larson and Bill King. Honorary pallbearers are all members of the Allen County Quarry crew and all members of the SAL. MEMORIAL CHOICES: American Cancer Society or Sons Of The American Legion. Memorial gifts may be left at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com .