Born April 14, 1949, in Mound Edward “Eddie” Dean Bray, the son of Mathias Edward Bray and Lois Madeena (Hawkins) Bray, was born April 14, 1949, in Mound, Mo., and went to be with the Lord on May 2, 2006, at the age of 57 years and 18 days.
Eddie was a lifelong resident of the Ava area. He was a farmer and minister, and pastor of Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church.
On March 16, 1973, Eddie and Kathy Darlene Hall were united in marriage in Ozark. Eddie and Kathy were blessed with four children.
Eddie loved and was involved in missions and bringing people to the Lord. His family and church family were very important to him. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming and the outdoors.
Eddie was preceded in death by his father, Mathias; and his father-in-law, Clayborn Metcalf.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy, of the home; four children, Reggie Bray and wife, Jessica, Houston, Tara Uhing and husband, Zach, Ava, Kayla Cunningham and husband, Justin, Bruner, and Kelse Bray, of the home, Ava; five grandchildren, Zachary, Nathan, and Joshua Bray, Jarin Cunningham, and Emma Uhing; his mother, Madeena Bray, Chadwick; two sisters, Jenean Gimlin and husband, Ed, of Ozark, and Connie Kissee and husband, Gary, Sparta; his mother-in-law, Ethel Metcalf, Brown Branch; a brother-in-law, Dale Hall and wife, Louise, Rockaway Beach; a sister-in-law, Ellen Everett and husband, Billy, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 5, at the Mound Church in Douglas County on T Highway with Bro. Ken Jones, Bro. Paul Pritchard and Bro. Oscar Cunningham officiating. Interment will be in the Mills Cemetery.
Visitation is today (Thursday) from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. The family requests memorials to the Preach Evangelistic Ministries.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
