Helen Ray Obituary

Helen Jarrell Ray

SHREVEPORT, LA - Helen Jarrell Ray was born in Childress, TX on August 20, 1925. On March 17, 2010 she died peacefully at home while surrounded by her family. Her family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at their home.

She grew up on a "dry land" farm outside of Childress. She told of making dresses from flour sacks and "pulling cotton" for spending money, things which were not uncommon for the times. After becoming a young widow with a child when her husband, Ray Wesley Gambol, Sr., died during WWII flight training, she attended Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, obtaining her M.S.W. degree. She met her husband, Tom, while employed at the VA Hospital in Waco, TX. Shortly after their marriage in 1957, they moved to Shreveport where they raised their family. She was also a special education social worker for the Caddo Parish School Board until retirement.

She was active in the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, having become one of the earliest members. During the 1960's and 1970's, she was active in the civil rights and feminist movements. She had many interests including travel, reading, investing and working NY Times crossword puzzles. She especially loved her family.

She was preceded in death by her son, Ray Wesley Gambol, Jr.; her parents, Ollie and Hardy Jarrell; her stepmother, Eula Jarrell; sisters, Kathy Lofstrom, Lonnie Ward, Edwina Henderson; and brother, James Cope.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Tom Brooks Ray; son, Brooks Ray (wife, Kim) and their children, Nicholas Manley and Sophia Ruth Ray of Prairieville, LA; daughter, Melissa Ray (husband, Stephen Wiele) and their son, Griffith Ray Wiele of Tucson, AZ; sisters, Joan Wyatt (husband, Ray) and Evelyn Speed (husband, George); and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Drs. Dan Moller and Ben Quinney and their kind staffs, as well as the caregivers from St. Joseph's Hospice and Home Instead for the thoughtful and dignifying care that they gave to Helen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be given to the charity of your choice. OSBORNFUNERALHOME.NET

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