Rev. Leroy Rayson

Rev. R. LeRoy Rayson, age 81, of Ottawa, Kansas, died Thursday, September 3, 2009. He was born on Thursday, March 29, 1928, in Mulhall, Oklahoma. He was the son of Ralph W. and Lena Alvina (Schafer) Rayson. He grew up in Mulhall, Oklahoma and Orlando, Oklahoma and later lived in the cities where he served as pastor. From 1953 to 1958, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Portland Ave. Evangelical United Brethren, later known as Ridgecrest United Methodist Church; 1958 to 1968, Independence, Kansas, Pioneer Memorial Evangelical United Brethren, later known as Grace Memorial United Methodist Church; 1968 to 1974, Kansas City, Kansas, University United Methodist Church; 1974 to 1983, Neodesha, Kansas, Neodesha United Methodist Church; 1983 to 1990, Topeka, Kansas, Topeka Grace United Methodist Church; 1990 to 1995, Holton, Kansas, Holton Evangel United Methodist Church, retiring from active pastoring; moving to Ottawa in1995, as associate pastor of Ottawa First United Methodist Church, retiring the second time on July 25, 2004. He graduated from Orlando High School in Orlando, Oklahoma with the class of 1946. He was also a graduate of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1950; and received his Masters of Divinity in 1953 from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naporville, Illinois. He helped organize the first Optimist Club in Kansas while in Kansas City, serving several years as President; was a member of Lions Club in Neodesha; Rotary in Holton; Kiwanis in Ottawa; was very active in Boy Scouts and was a scout himself, serving on the Scouting committees in all of his churches; and was a WEBELOS Leader. He has always been associated with the Kansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, now known as the Kansas East Conference. On June 11, 1951, LeRoy was united in marriage with Muriel vonWald Frank in Farmington, Minnesota. She survives of their home. He is survived by his: Wife-Muriel (Frank) Rayson of the home Son-David Elton Rayson and his wife, Evelyn, of Wichita, Kansas Daughter-Carolyn Jean Scott and her husband, Steve, of Manhattan, Kansas Son-Gary Donn Rayson and his wife, Jenny, of LasCruces, New Mexico Son-Paul Frank Rayson and his wife, Donna, of Ottawa, Kansas Son-Robert Riley Rayson and his wife, Mary, of Chesapeake, Virginia Son-Philip Joel Rayson and his wife, Kristal, of Independence, Missouri Foster children-Raised ten to twelve Sister-Evalyn Davidson of Woodlake, California Sister-Mary Hazel Lawler of Stillwater, Oklahoma Sister-Christine Kindschi of Perry, Oklahoma Stepbrother-Charles Scott of Tulsa, Oklahoma Stepbrother-James “Jimmy” Scott of Tulsa, Oklahoma Fifteen Grandchildren-Jennifer Scott, Heather Tierney, Jason Scott, Matthew Scott, Amanda Rayson, Kevin Rayson, Christian Rayson, Mary Larcom, John Rayson, Emily Rayson, Sierra Rayson, Samantha Morgan, Sebastian Rayson, Caleb Rayson, and Maryssa Rayson One Great-Grandson-Connor Scott He was preceded in death by his: Father-Ralph W. Rayson Mother-Lena Alvina (Schafer) Rayson Sister-Irene Vandermark Great-Granddaughter-Lidda Jo Larcom SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from First United Methodist Church in Ottawa at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. IN STATE: Family will meet with friends at First United Methodist Church from 7:00 to 8:00 Monday evening. CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery in Ottawa, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.