Melvin Wayne Bray

Melvin (Mel) Wayne Bray, 87, of Boulder City, Nevada passed away suddenly on Thursday afternoon, September 21, 2023. Mel had a big personality and was just one of those types of people who never met a stranger. Mel will be missed by many friends and family members.
Mel was born to parents, Thomas Tab Bray and Lucille (Lucy) McLain Bray in Calhoun County, Mississippi on July 5, 1936. Mel grew up in the Bruce, Mississippi area on a farm. He worked hard on the farm with his family, and enjoyed fishing and music in his free time. When Mel was growing up he sang in The Bray Gospel Quartet. The other quartet members were his cousins and his brother, Charles. They were well-known, singing in many different church locations, gospel meetings, and other venues throughout the South. While Mel's first love was singing, he loved playing other musical instruments too. Mel was an accomplished saxophone player, playing both the alto and baritone "bari" sax. Upon graduating in 1955 from Bruce High School, he was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi to play the saxophone for the Golden Eagles Band.
During Mel's life, his career was predominantly spent in real estate and mortgage banking. In 1976, Mel and his family moved to Jay. Shortly after arriving in Jay, Mel opened his own real estate business. He had a small farm of 40 acres between Jay and Maysville and raised Arabian horses as a hobby. He loved animals, most specifically his horses and dogs, and he loved to fish; these things brought him much joy and relaxation.
Mel was a big sports fan. Growing up in Mississippi, he was a staunch Ole Miss Rebels fan, as he grew up a few miles away from Oxford. He enjoyed boxing and was a Golden Gloves boxer when he was young, and while living in Jay, he assisted Walt Loy in coaching the Jay Boxing Club. Most of all, Mel loved to watch and follow Jay Bulldog football and basketball. He and the family often traveled to out-of-town games and tournaments where Mel was often heard above the rest of the crowd yelling, "Way to go Bulldogs!"
In the early 80s, he opened a mortgage banking business- the first office in the Triad Center in Tulsa. Later, he moved to the Atlanta, GA area, where he found two of his greatest gifts in life, his son Gavin was born there, and he met his wife, Karen there. They eventually moved to Branson, in order to be closer to the part of the country Mel loved, to work for Wells Fargo as a mortgage banker, and to continue his life's pursuit of music. While living in Branson, he greatly loved fishing in Lake Taneycomo and teaching his son, Gavin, and his grandson, Garrett all of his fishing "secrets." After many years in Branson, Mel retired from Wells Fargo, and he and his wife moved to Boulder City, NV to be closer to her children and grandson.
Through all the years, Mel never lost his passion for music, both in playing it and in writing it. He was often seen playing the keyboard while he was writing songs and also playing the guitar or the autoharp. Many of his favorite memories were made singing with and for his family members throughout the years. Mel enjoyed the saxophone so much that he taught both his son, Bill, and daughter, Charlotte, to play. He was especially proud when Bill was selected first chair in the high school band in Bruce when he was only an 8th grade student.
One of the activities Mel took pride in most was being the song leader for the Southside Church of Christ when he lived in Jay. He led singing in many cities throughout his life, but he felt a special closeness to the congregation in Jay. It was important to him that the singing was pleasing to God, and he spent a lot of time selecting the right songs and teaching the congregation new hymns.
One of Mel's greatest accomplishments, which became his deepest regret, was in not accepting the Sun Record's contract he was offered in the 1950s. If he were still here, he would most definitely encourage others to pursue their dreams because that is what he spent a great deal of his life doing.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Haggerty Bray of Boulder City, NV; his daughter, Charlotte Read, and her husband, Mark, of Jay; his son, Gavin Wayne Bray and his wife Maricruz of Atlanta, Georgia; his stepdaughter, Anna McKay and her husband Danny of Boulder City, NV; his stepson Chuck Butler and his wife Diane of Las Vegas, NV; his grandson, Garrett Whisenant; step grandson, Van Lawson, and his great grandson, Alister Whisenant; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his oldest son, William (Bill/Billy) Harold Niksch; his parents; two brothers; two sisters; a brother-in-law; a sister-in-law; his aunts, uncles, nephews, and cousins.
Mel's family visitation to greet friends will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, from 6:00-8:00pm at Lawson's Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 311 W. Gray St., Jay, OK 74346. All are welcome to attend.
Mel's Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, 2:00pm, November 3, 2023, in the Chapel of Lawson's Funeral Homes & Cremation Services of Jay, OK. Followed by his funeral procession to Mount Hermon Cemetery, Jay, OK. Mel's burial will be at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Jay, OK.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jay High School Band or the Southside Church of Christ, in honor of Mel's memory.
Arrangements are entrusted to Lawson's Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 311 W. Gray St. Jay, OK 74346 with Shaunda J. Lawson, 3rd Generation Owner/Funeral Director and Staff.
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