Lillian Hart Wray

Lillian Hart Wray, age 91, went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, February 1, 2010 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was born in Ennis, Texas, on January 4, 1919, the daughter of Earl and Mary McClure Hart. She had many happy childhood days living on White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas, where her father was the superintendent. She graduated from Dallas Technical High School in 1936. In 1940, while working at Dallas Power and Light, she met a young engineer named Hal Wray. They married on May 2, 1942, and moved to Orange, Texas, where Hal built battleships during WWII and Lillian enjoyed being a full-time mother and homemaker. After the war, Hal and Lillian lived all their married life in Orange, owning and operating Wray and White Auto Supply. Lillian earned a degree in Elementary Education from Lamar University in 1976, but continued working at Wray and White. In 1980, Lillian lost her husband and best friend, Hal. After Hal died, Lillian devoted herself to service. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Orange for most of her life. She is a past president of the United Methodist Women, organized a widows' support group, and went to Romania to carry gifts for orphans. She welcomed her aging aunt, Helen Roberts, into her home for five years. In her later years, she moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to live with her son Charles Wray and his wife Carolyn. In 2001, she became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After her Alzheimer's worsened, she needed constant care and resided in Lakewood Nursing Home. The family thanks the staff of Lakewood for the loving attention they gave to Lillian. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers John and Richard Hart, and her sister Betty Hart. She has one surviving sister, Jacqueline Morgan, and many nieces and nephews. She also has a surviving brother-in-law, Rowland Lewis and his wife, Neeta, and a sister-in-law, Helen Lewis. She is survived by her daughter Ronda Harris and husband Jim, and grandchildren James Harris, Kay Archbold, Christy Parsons and Wendy Tingey; her son John Hal Wray and spouse Mel, and grandchildren Michael Wray and Angela Christian, her daughter Pat Vassilaros and husband Dan, grandchildren Ian Vassilaros, Sean Vassilaros, and David Vassilaros, her son Charles Wray and wife Carolyn, grandchildren Crystal Boyle, Ben Wray, Robert Wray, and Joanna Wray, plus 32 great-grandchildren. Services were held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, February 6, 2010, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Malvern Avenue, with Bishop Oscar DeVaux officiating. Visitation was held at the church from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM, prior to the service on Saturday. Interment was in the Spring Grove Cemetery, Bonnerdale, under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Hot Springs. Pallbearers will be John Michael Wray, Benjamin Patrick Wray, Robert Hal Wray, Sean Hal Vassilaros, Ian Anthony Vassilaros, David Daniel Vassilaros, James Edward Harris III, James Edward Harris Jr. and Daniel L. Vassilaros. Honorary pallbearers will be, Bryan Christian, Russell Boyle, Mike Archbold, Rob Parsons and Chris Tingey. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Hailey Mayz Foundation, 19041 Canyon Terrace Dr., Portola Hills, 92679 or on Facebook, founded in memory of Lillian's great-granddaughter who died in 2009. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com