Wray, Laird M. 1908-1987

WRAY, HAMILTON, AHRENS, PHIPPS, MAYO

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/6/2010 at 18:24:58

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) Sept. 17, 1987

LAIRD WRAY SERVICES HELD

Laird M. Wray, 79, of 403 Fourth Ave., Grinnell, died Saturday, Sept. 16, at St. Francis Manor.

Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Grinnell United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Raymond Lott, pastor of the church, officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner, and violinist was Diane Wasson.

Pallbearers were Bill Ahrens, John G. Ahrens, Dave Palmer, David Phipps, Steve Phipps and Chris Wray. Honorary bearers were Carl Ahrens, Claude Ahrens, Don Ahrens, Bob Breiting, John Nolan, Ed Peak, James Peak and John Peak.

Burial was in Hazelwood Cemetery, with the Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church or to St. Francis Manor.

The son of Charles and Elizabeth Hamilton Wray, he was born on Aug. 16, 1908, at Kellogg. He attended rural school.

On July 4, 1928, he was married to Esther H. Ahrens at Montezuma. The couple lived in Grinnell, except from 1947 to 1949 when they lived in Ithaca, N.Y.

Mr. Wray was in the service station business and the floor-covering business. He was also a salesman for the former Sureway Hybrid Seed Corn Co. and worked as a purchasing agent for Miracle Recreation Equipment Co. He was a member of the United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Velma L. Phipps of Grinnell; one son, Larry E. Wray of Montezuma; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Fred S. Wray of Ithaca, N.Y.; and a sister, Velma B. Mayo, also of Ithaca. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Laird D.; a granddaughter; and a brother, Paul Wray.