Born April 5, 1912, in Ava A graveside service for J. Raymond B. Gentry, 94, was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in Covington Cemetery, Covington, Okla., with Tommy Donaldson and Jody Schmidt officiating. Arrangements were by Dugger Funeral Home, Garber, Okla.
He was born April 5, 1912, in Ava, the son of Charles M. and Leota (Sivils) Gentry. He died on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, at Perry Memorial Hospital.
Raymond attended Lakey and Arno schools and graduated from Ava High School in 1932. He attended Southwest Missouri Teachers University and taught school for two years.
He and Audrey Reynolds were married on Oct. 26, 1935, at Galena. They moved to south Louisiana where he worked for numerous oil companies until 1943 when he was inducted into the United States Army. He served his country in the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged in 1946.
Raymond worked in a Western Auto Associates Store before moving to Newell, W. Va., where he was employed at the Homer-Laughlin China Company and later at Globe Brick Company.
In 1951, Mr. and Mrs. Gentry moved to Covington, Okla., where they owned and operated Gentry’s Store for 22 years. Raymond retired in 1979.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Anchor No. 104 of Marshall, where he was elected worshipful master in 1989 and recognized for 60 years of membership in 2003.
Raymond also was a member of the Covington Rotary Club and Tri-County Senior Citizens and attended the First Baptist Church in Covington.
Raymond is survived by two brothers, Melvin J. Gentry, of Plains City, Ohio, and Henderson Oliver Gentry, of Ava; two sisters, Juanita Stafford, of St. Joseph, and Piccola Jean Ridge, of Sandy, Utah.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey of 68 years, his parents, five sisters and three brothers.
Memorials may be made to the Tri-County Senior Citizens Center of Covington in care of Dugger Funeral Home, P.O. Box 66, Garber, Okla. 73738.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.dugger funeralhome.com.
