Ray Little

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Ray Albert Little, age 93, of Lamar, Missouri passed away October 5, 2024, at his home.

Ray was born February 6, 1931, at his grandparent's home near Iantha, MO., to Chester Edwin Little and Ethel Mae (Lawrence) Little. Ray attended Ozark and Haines Grove country schools and graduated from Lamar High School in the class of 1950. On November 24, 1954, Ray married Doris Lynn Gastel in Miami, Oklahoma. Ray served in the National Guard from 1950 - 1955.

Ray began working in his youth helping his dad with farm work. He often told of driving the team of horses on cold dark mornings rumbling down the gravel roads to his destination to pick corn for Leo Needham. 

During his teenage years he worked at the DX filling station. He attended college in Pittsburg, KS, then returned to Lamar and bought half interest in Flesch’s DX Station. He then worked at Lawn Boy in the sales and the traffic departments for ten years until the company moved. Ray also kept the books for plots for Lake Cemetery in Lamar. 

In 1963 Ray was offered a bank teller’s position at Lamar Trust Company. After 35 years he retired from the bank at the position of Bank President then served on the bank’s Board of Directors another 24 years. 

After retiring from the bank, he was free to pursue his part time job as farmer. Ray was a successful farmer and was extremely proud of his farm’s personal-best wheat yield this summer. He began farming in 1965 at the urging of his father-in-law, Leonard Gastel. At one time Ray farmed the land across the street from his family’s home on Hagny where they have lived since 1959. Ray eventually began farming the ground on his parents’ farm near Iantha and added to the original farm. 

At the age of 82 back problems forced Ray to retire from farming. His new passion became mowing the countryside. Ray took pride in tidy equipment, tidy barns, tidy fields, and tidy roadsides. He was a lifetime warrior against weeds and unwanted grass in his fields. When he wasn’t on a tractor, he could be seen walking his bean fields with a hoe chasing down the weeds that slipped by the cultivator or the sprayer, or spraying with his hand sprayer full of Roundup at the LBT parking lot and elderly peoples’ driveways and sidewalks that he helped watch over.

Ray was a long-time member of the Lamar METRO club and Lamar Fishing Club.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Doris; four sons, Danny and wife Jewell Little, Kevin and wife Gina Little, Greg and wife Teresa Little, all of Lamar, and Rod and wife Karen Little of Dayton, Virginia; one daughter, Debra and husband Randy Garrett, of Lamar, MO; ten grandchildren, Jason (Christy) Bartlett, Julie Adams, Alana (Austin) Gilmartin, Lauren (Jake) Engle, Brandon Little, Casey (Amanda) Little, Seth (Caleigh) Little, Kyla (Josh) Baughman, Alex (Pierce) Gibson and Evan Garrett; 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and one sister, Evelyn Hammer of Bartonville, Illinois.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents.

Ray was a humble treasured man who knew the importance of hard work and community. He had a life well-lived.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 10, 2024, at Daniel Funeral Home with burial to follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Lamar, MO.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the funeral home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery or Donor's Choice in care of Daniel Funeral Home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.