Stewart Eldred Ray, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, passed away on May 23, 2025, at his daughter's home near Sharon, Oklahoma, at the age of 87.

Born June 14, 1937, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Eldred Orland and Olive Frances (Stewart) Ray, Stewart spent his early years in Enid before moving to Vici, Oklahoma. There, he graduated high school in 1958 and went on to earn an associate degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

On February 22, 1958, Stewart married the love of his life, Chrystal Joan Louthan, at the Seiling Friends Church. Together they built a life centered around faith, family, and community, raising their children: Sandra, Sherrie, and Shelly. Stewart and Joan made their home in Woodward before settling on a farm south of Sharon in 1970, where he would live for most of his life.

Stewart dedicated 35 years of service as a clerk and as the county executive director of the USDA ASCS office in Woodward and Beaver, retiring in 1992. He started crop adjusting and worked for different companies for 30 years. Farmers and his fellow adjusters respected his knowledge of crops.  Stewart's passions were as steady and grounded as his character—he enjoyed farming, arrowhead hunting, bowling, carpentry, fishing, hunting, dominoes, pitching horseshoes, and watching OU Football and OKC Thunder basketball. He enjoyed holding season tickets to Sooner football games and attending the games with Joan.

A man of faith, Stewart was a long-time member of the Seiling Friends Church, where he served on various committees and participated in missionary work in Haiti and traveled to Haiti 4 times. He later joined the Woodward Nazarene Church where he continued to serve on committees.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan Ray; his infant son, Dennis Ray; his parents, Eldred and Olive Ray; his son-in-law, Jeff Koehn; his brother-in-law, Bud Grace; and his sister-in-law, Marilyn Waggoner.

Stewart leaves behind a legacy of love and strength in his daughters: Sandra Koehn, Sherrie Benson and husband Bryce, and Shelly Palacios and husband Israel; his sister, Judy Grace; his grandchildren: Jaisha Rimer and husband Coleman, Jordan Koehn, Sherryce Pinon and husband Tyler, Chrystal Detring and husband Tyler, Jesse Palacios and wife Maegann, Brent Palacios, Adrian Palacios, and Isaac Palacios; six great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Verl Louthan and wife Judy, and Eugene Waggoner; three nieces; four nephews; and many other extended family members, friends, and neighbors who were touched by his warmth, wisdom, and quiet strength.

Stewart Ray will be deeply missed and forever remembered for his unwavering faith, generous spirit, and the enduring love he had for his family and community.

A celebration of Stewart's life will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Woodward Church of the Nazarene. Memorial donations may be made to Sunnyside Cemetery or the Woodward Nazarene Church, c/o Shaw Funeral Home, PO Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.

Memorial donations may be made to Sunnyside Cemetery
c/o Shaw Funeral Home
PO Box 276
Vici, OK 73859