This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McDowell, Yardley, McKay, Coen, Oldham, Anthony, Wilson Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5YB.2ACE/6813 Message Board Post: Lillard Ray McDowell was born December 10, 1908 in Sullivan County, Missouri to William Franklin and Mary Belle Yardley McDowell. He passed from this life on June 24, 2006 at Elk City, Oklahoma at the age of 97 years, 6 months, and 14 days. Ray's mother died when he was a young boy. His father, being alone, could not care for all thea children so Ray came to Oklahoma at the age of 8 to live with his Aunt Wrintha and Uncle Tom McKay. He spent the remainder of his life in this area. Ray accepted Christ as his Savior when he was young man and became a member of the First Baptist Church of Leedey, Oklahoma. Ray married Claude Irene "Toot" Coen on February 22, 1931 at Cheyenne, Oklahoma. To this union were born two children, Viletta and Tommy. Ray and Irene engaged in farming all their married lives and farmed northwest of Leedey until retiring and moving into Leedey. Ray greatly enjoyed farming, raising cattle and playing dominoes. He was especially fond of time spesnt with his grandchildren and all their activities. Ray was considered a man of integrity and compassion. He was a loving and caring father and grandfather and greatly loved by his family, nieces, nephews and friends who lives he loving touched. Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Irene in 1998; his parents, William and Mary McDowell; by four brothers, Alvin, Clyde, Cliff and Ralph; by four sisters, Marie, Alma, Echo and Nadine; by greaat grandson, Cody Oldham; by great-granddaughter, Shelby Anthony; and by Aunt Wrintha andd Uncle Tom who lovingly raised him. Thosed left to cherish his memory are his daughter and son-in-law, Viletta and Gene Anthony of Tescumseh,OK ; his son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Jarene McDowell of Leedey, OK; grandchildren, Danny McDowell of Leedey, OK, Darla Oldham of Owesso, OK, James Oldham, Steve and Patrick Anthony, Cheryl and Todd Wilson all of Tecumseh, OK; great-grandchildren, Sara Oldham of Shawnee, OK, Kaitlyn Oldham of Owasso, OK, Megan, Michael and McKenna Anthony of Tecumseh, OK; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Services were held Wednesday, June 28, 2006 in thea First United Methodist Church, Leedey, OK with interment following in New Hermon Cemetery. Service arranged by Shaw Funeral Home, Leedey, OK. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 29-Jun-2006