Bill Ray

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

William “Bill” Allen Ray, 77, of Baxter Springs, Kansas, died Sunday, May 31, following a short illness.

Bill was born on October 6, 1942, in Winfield, Kansas, to Roy Ray and LaVerne Taylor and grew up in Neosho, Missouri. He attended both Neosho High School and Noel High School. He graduated in 1960 from Noel High School. From 1960-63 he served in the U.S. Navy, where he was an electrician’s mate.

Bill returned to Missouri and joined Empire District Electric Company in 1963. He married Mary Wasson on December 3, 1963. They had two children together, Stacey and Carrie. Mary died on March 11, 1985.

He married Kathryn Warden on August 29, 1992. He retired from Empire District as the area supervisor in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 2001.

Bill was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He had an ability to fix anything. He was an avid viewer of CNBC and Bloomberg and didn’t shy away from discussions of finances. He was hard working, kind, friendly and never met a stranger. He would joke with everybody.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother Monty and wife Mary. He is survived by his wife Kathryn; his brother Roy (Marsha) of Joplin, Mo.; his children Stacey Stone (Steve) of Owasso, Okla., and Carrie Eyberg (Patrick) of Claremore, Okla.; his stepchildren Don Warden (Lisa) of Little Rock, Ark., Janet Markway (Greg) of Blue Springs, Mo., John Warden (Patti) of Madison, Ala., and Chris Warden (Kristi) of Joplin, Mo.; his grandchildren Zac Stone, Kristin Shaw (Chris), Rebecca Page, Matthew Warden (Morgan), Steven Markway (Kelli), Clay Warden (Lindsay), Erin Lewis (Michael), Emily Warden, Sara Markway and Drew Warden and 11 great-grandchildren.

Private graveside services at will be held at Peace Valley Cemetery in Anderson, Missouri.

A visitation will be on Saturday, June 6 from 2-4 p.m. at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Social distancing will be observed. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a charity of your choice.