Marvin Ray Hefner

1925 - 2017

HEFNER, Marvin Marvin "Ray" Hefner, 92, passed away on October 3, 2017, in Austin, Texas. Ray was born January 17, 1925, in Oklahoma City to Linnie Victoria (Thompson) and Elzie Eugene Hefner. Ray is survived by his wife of 72 years, Nadyne; his children and their spouses: Deborah Aker, Pam and Robert Ballew of Austin, and Tom and Linda Hefner of San Antonio; his four beloved grandchildren: Julian, Holly, and Martin Aker, and Anna Ballew; and Ray's sister Ann Thompson. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, sister Dorothy Andrews, and brothers Charlie, Gene, and Carl, as well as twin sister, Marion Fay, who died in infancy. In spite of his depression-era upbringing, Ray worked diligently to educate himself and create a stable environment for his family. He worked after school for Veazey drugstore in Oklahoma City delivering orders by bicycle. Later he advanced to fountain manager and met his lifelong sweetheart, the lovely Nadyne Bell. Upon graduating from high school in 1943, he entered into the Army Air Corps and completed bombardier training. In 1945, while stationed in Tonopah, Nevada, Ray and Nadyne were married. He advanced to 1st Lieutenant by the end of World War II. Ray attended the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of three honorary engineering fraternities, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1950. After graduation, Ray joined Phillips Petroleum Company as an engineer. He worked in various locations including Pauls Valley, Shidler, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Santa Barbara, California, and Odessa, Texas before accepting an assignment in Stavanger, Norway, in 1974. He was the Chief Engineer for Drilling and Production for the giant Ekofisk Field in the Norwegian Sector of the North Sea, then moved to Great Yarmouth, England in 1977, where he managed offshore production in the Southern sector of the North Sea. In 1981, he was honored to be appointed Manager of Phillips Egypt. Ray and Nadyne completed their international experience in Alexandria, Egypt. He then retired after 35 years' service and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his overseas work from 1974 to 1985. Nadyne and Ray retired to Austin in 1993 to be near their children and grandchildren. Ray was an avid golfer with ten holes-in-one and had shot his age many times. He was a member of Tarrytown United Methodist Church, Austin Country Club and the OU Club of Austin. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, October 28, 2017, at Tarrytown Methodist Church, followed by a reception celebrating his life. Special thanks to the staff at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas who cared for him. Memorials may be made to Higher Heroes USA, benefitting veterans.