James Bray Jr.

Home Going Celebration for James Bray, Jr., Clinton resident and former businessman, will be 1:00 P.M., Saturday, September 14, 2019 in the Bethany Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Larry Featherstone and Rev. Billy Mucker. Burial will follow in the Clinton Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. James Bray, Jr., was born October 20, 1932 to James Bray and Bertha (Willard) Bray in Hugo, OK, he was the eldest of three children and he passed away early Tuesday, September 10, 2019 in the St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. J.B. as he was known by family and friends was raised in Hugo, OK where he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1950. He married Geraldine "Gerri" Hopkins on June 28, 1952 in Cooper, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 11, 1953 and served a stint in Honolulu, Hawaii and was honorably discharged on March 5, 1955. After moving to Clinton, Oklahoma he owned and operated two different gas stations. The Gulf Service Station and The Champion Service Station and for the last several years he has owned and operated Bray's Salvage. J.B. continued his education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK, being the first in his family to attend college. He loved his church, his pastor, Rev. Billy Mucker, his family, especially his sister, Arizona "Woman" Henson. He had very special relationship with his cousin Clarice Lambert, they were a team in and out of church. He was a longtime and faithful member of the Bethany Baptist Church serving as Sunday school teacher and head deacon; District and State Laymen, District and State Instructor Prayer and Devotional Leader and a member of the brotherhood; he loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting; he was a chef and loved to cook, and according to his family "his pancakes are out of this world and there is nothing he can't cook." He was an avid sports fan; he supported the Dallas Cowboys, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma University Football; and he liked western movies. His children states that he was a fair man but also firm. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Bertha Bray, his wife, Gerri, brother, Charles Bray and a granddaughter, Nicole Haley. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Maynard, Stockton, CA, son Leo and wife Talitha Bray, Tulsa, daughter, Gwen Climpson, Tulsa and his son, Larry Featherstone and wife Velma, Lawton, sister Arizona Henson, Hugo, OK. His grandchildren, Carol's children, Zohna and husband Anthony Everett, Stockton, CA, Tammie Maynard, Oklahoma City, Cassandra Gray and husband, Cornell, Stockton, CA, Willard Maynard and wife Chalsey, Stockton, CA, James Maynard, Oklahoma City; Leo's Children Shorena Ashley and husband, William, Oklahoma City, Lakeisha Caldwell and husband Dometri, Tulsa, OK, Leo Bray, Jr., Tulsa, OK, Ruby Bray, Oklahoma City, Josh Bray, Oklahoma City, Charisse Bray, Tulsa, OK, Cierra Bray, Tulsa, OK, Stephanie Long-Kakubo, Tulsa, OK; Gwen's Children, Jordan Climpson, Tulsa, OK, Destiny Climpson, Tulsa, OK; Larry's daughter La Tasha Featherstone, Oklahoma city, OK. In addition, Gerri is survived by 45 great-grandchildren.