Otis Thomas Ray 1884-1925

RAY, SPRATT, PRITCHARD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/10/2010 at 20:10:35

The Harmony Center neighbors played the role of the good Samaritan when about 20 men with teams and wagons drove to the home of Otis Ray and husked his entire field of corn. The E. F. club ladies served a lunch for the men during the afternoon. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 2, 1925)

Otis Ray Dies After Three Months Illness
Otis Ray, a farmer residing on the old Pingrey farm northwest of Estherville, passed away in the Birney hospital Sunday [December 20, 1925] afternoon. He had been ill for three months with anemia and other complications. Part of this time was spent at the University of Iowa hospital and upon his return from that place he was taken to the Birney hospital for care. Mr. Ray was born on July 20, 1884, and was past 41 years old at the time of his death. He leaves a wife to mourn his passing.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon. A short prayer at the home at one thirty was followed by regular services at the Methodist church at two. Rev. Chipperfield was in charge. Burial was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Otis Thomas Ray was born July 20, 1894 [1884], near Frazier, Boone county, Iowa. He was one of a family of seven children born to John W. and Mary N. Ray. His youth was spent in the vicinity of his birth. When he became of age he began farming for himself. On June 12, 1918, he married Margaret Spratt of Estherville and they settled n a farm near Superior where they made their home for three yeasr. In 1921 they moved to Estherville where they have since resided.

Both by his vocation and disposition Mr. Ray was known as a modest, industrious and rather retiring man. He was a good neighbor and a kind husband. His circle of acquaintances though somewhat circumscribed, yielded a considerable number of friends, by whom his untimely death is deeply felt.

The surviving members of his immediate family are his father, who lives at Frazier, Iowa; three brothers, William of Boone, Iowa; Alvin of Frazier, Iowa; and John of Estherville, Iowa, one sister, Mrs. Samuel Pritchard of Rockwell City, Iowa. His family consists of his wife only. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 23, 1925)