Wallace "Doe" McRay

Wallace Doran “ Doe “ McRay, 75, longtime Seminole resident died Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Seminole, Oklahoma. Wallace was born March 6, 1936 in Holdenville, Oklahoma to John R. and Berta Elva (Bagwell) McRay. Doe grew up in Holdenville, Oklahoma and attended school there and graduated from Holdenville High School in 1954 where he excelled at football and was an all-state football player. He went from there to David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., to further his knowledge of the bible. When he graduated in 1960 he came back to work with the Church of Christ in Wewoka, Oklahoma for a year and the went to work with the Church of Christ in Ada, Oklahoma as the Bible Chair Director which was an outreach program of the church to the Students of East Central University, for over 10 years. While there he held three devotionals per week, preached and raised funds for the current Bible Chair Building at East Central University. During his time there he influenced many students to become preachers. Doe was well known in Oklahoma for his vast knowledge of the Bible and held Gospel meetings all over Oklahoma. Doe and his family moved to Seminole in 1971 to take over McRay Brothers Water Well Drilling from his father. He owned and operated it until his retirement in 1998. While in the water well business, he served as President of the Oklahoma Water Well Association and as President of the National Water Well Association, working with legislators to improve the water well drilling industry. He was also appointed to serve on the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.  While living in Seminole he filled in as preacher at Church of Christ in Little and Cromwell, while there the church grew and flourished from his teachings. He was also a Deacon and Elder at the Seminole Church of Christ and preached and taught there often. Doe was very active and supported Seminole High School sports programs and Seminole State College Baseball program, donating his time and efforts to make both succeed. He was the announcer for Seminole High Football for 10 years and enjoyed watching his children participate in Seminole High School sports. Doe was a Master Class amateur (Ham) radio operator and loved to play bluegrass music with his band, his instrument of choice was the mandolin. He had many friends and always made people feel special when he met them.  Doe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sue McRay of Seminole, Oklahoma, two sons Todd McRay of Mangum, Oklahoma and Bryan McRay and his wife Sunny of Shawnee, Oklahoma and a daughter Amy McRay of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also survived by a brother and sister-in-law Harold and Evelyn McRay of Lawton, Oklahoma, Brother-in-law Larry Cain of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Two sisters-in-law Linda McRay of Ft. Smith, Arkansas and Neva McRay of Edmond, Oklahoma, and by his grandchildren Darcey, Whitney, Jake, Jaxen, Jace and Olivia. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 A.M., Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the Seminole Church of Christ at 4200 Highway 99N in Seminole with burial at Little Cemetery. Charles Kymes and Les McGalliard will officiate at the funeral. Casket bearers will be Jake Cain, Mark McRay, Matt Cain, Brian Adams and Jeff McRay and David McRay. Honorary bearers will be Jack Mattingly, Sr., Jeff Davis, Ralph Bellamy, Howard Byerly, Thurman Edwards, Syd Morgan, Jim Hardin and Brent Adams. Memorial donations may be made to the McRay Preaching Scholarship at Oklahoma Christian University at P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73136 or Building Fund at the Seminole Church of Christ. Funeral services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: September 10, 2011, 10:00 AM Seminole Church of Christ located at 4200 Highway 99 N, Seminole, OK 74868