Betty Belle (Hood) Ray

Betty Belle (Hood) Ray went home to be with her Lord Wednesday, September 2, 2020.  She was born March 17, 1924, the oldest daughter of Charles Hood and Gladys (Eubanks) Hood.  One of 11 children, Betty attended school in Miller, Missouri and graduated from Mt Vernon High School in 1943.  
One of many WWII brides, Betty married her high school sweetheart O. Paul Ray of Miller, Missouri, on October 4, 1942.  She accompanied Paul on tours in Chicago and Florida before returning to the Lawrence County area to begin farming. While in Chicago, Betty shared an apartment with Paul’s shipmate’s wife, Nell Bandy.  Betty was drawn to the devotion that Nell had for her bible reading and prayer life.  Nell shared the gospel with Betty, and she made the decision to follow Christ in her life.    With Paul’s calling to the ministry, Betty felt called also to support his educational endeavors while raising her family and caring for her home, all the while serving in many roles in the various churches where they ministered.
Teaching and ministerial opportunities would take the couple to various locations across Missouri and for four years in Iowa.  During this time  Betty supported Paul’s career and began working in retail stores, discovering that she enjoyed working with the public.  
     Always a creative and talented individual, Betty enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilting. She took pride in gifting her creations to her children, grandchildren and family. Her home was always warm and inviting and she enjoyed sharing it with friends and family.
She is survived by her four children, Linda (Ray) Morris of Strafford, Missouri; Kathryn (Ray) Stine of Belton, Missouri; Roseann (Ray) Blunt of Springfield, Missouri; and Paul Mark Ray and his wife Pam of Belton, Missouri.  Grandchildren, Kevin Morris and wife Marla, Christopher Morris and wife Sarah, Matthew Blunt and wife Melanie, Amy Blunt, Andrew Blunt and wife Jill,  Jeff Stine, Mark Stine and wife Pam, Nicholas Ray and wife Christina, Tyler Ray and wife Ashley, 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great -great  grandchild. Also surviving are two sisters, JoAnn (Hood) Wilson and Helen (Hood) Wilmoth, two brothers Jerry Hood and Paul Kenneth Hood and many nieces and nephews.
     She was proceeded in death by her husband of 63 years O. Paul Ray, her parents Charles and Gladys Hood, brothers Winston, Winifred, Keith, Ralph, Morris and Max.  Also proceeding her in death were two grandchildren, John David Stine and Elizabeth Jane Blunt and son-in-law David Stine.
Services will be at 2PM on Friday, September 11 at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon Missouri, with visitation at 1PM.  Burial will take place immediately following at Sycamore Cemetery, Miller, Missouri with a fellowship time to follow at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donation can be made to the Sycamore Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 262, Miller, Missouri 65707. Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.