Cynthia Esther Bray - Obituary
The Sapulpa Herald - May 16, 2007
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| Esther Bray and Kathy Neal, 1958 |
Cynthia Esther Bray, 91, died Monday, May 14, 2007. She was a much-loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
Esther believed in God’s plan for her. He gave her a healthy, long life. Physically, she looked and acted like a person 20 years younger. She was a wise and wonderful woman, well-known in the Sapulpa community. She will be missed by all.
Esther was born Aug. 9, 1915, in Bristow, to Harry and Grace Patty. She graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1935 and married Howard Bray on January 24, 1936. Their first daughter, Patty Jeanne, was born in May of 1937, followed four years later by daughter Betty Joanne.
Esther was always hard at work. She worked for her brother Harry in the Machine and Tool business. She worked with her sister Betty at a dress boutique in Sapulpa. For over 20 years Esther was an award-winning Avon representative. She retired from selling Avon at the young age of 87.
Esther was huge part of the life of the Sapulpa First Church of God. She directed the choir for nearly 50 years. She was so proud and honored when a scholarship was established in her honor for a Music Student at Mid-America Christian College in Oklahoma City.
Esther believed in God’s plan for her. He gave her a healthy, long life. Physically, she looked and acted like a person 20 years younger. She was a wise and wonderful woman, well-known in the Sapulpa community. She will be missed by all.
Esther was born Aug. 9, 1915, in Bristow, to Harry and Grace Patty. She graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1935 and married Howard Bray on January 24, 1936. Their first daughter, Patty Jeanne, was born in May of 1937, followed four years later by daughter Betty Joanne.
Esther was always hard at work. She worked for her brother Harry in the Machine and Tool business. She worked with her sister Betty at a dress boutique in Sapulpa. For over 20 years Esther was an award-winning Avon representative. She retired from selling Avon at the young age of 87.
Esther was huge part of the life of the Sapulpa First Church of God. She directed the choir for nearly 50 years. She was so proud and honored when a scholarship was established in her honor for a Music Student at Mid-America Christian College in Oklahoma City.
She was the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors. She was voted the Church’s Mothers of the Year. She led her Sunday School Class –– the “Happy Warriors” –– on many outings and trips.
Esther taught Sunday school, cooked Wednesday night dinners, led the worship and served on various committees throughout the years. She attended as many church events as she could.
There were three constants in her life: She loved the Lord; she loved every member of her huge, extended family; and she loved her church. Those were the “big 3.”
There were some close runners-up, however; she loved the Dallas Cowboys, the Sooners and the Sapulpa Chieftains. She loved Braum’s ice cream, a good cup of coffee, and she loved to play Rook. She loved to go to football, basketball and baseball games. In fact, she was a pretty mean baseball player herself.
In her youth, she played shortstop on a men’s team and was the catcher on a girls‘ team. She followed the activities of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and this community avidly. We can all remember stepping on stage at a school assembly, a concert, a pageant or an athletic field and looking out into the audience or in the stands. There she was -- easy to see with that glorious head of white hair front and center.
Esther leaves a legacy of talent and passion. Her musical talent was given to her by her Lord. And she was very proud that her music and athletic ability extended through the generations, both in her immediate and extended family. What a fierce legacy it is.
Esther is survived by her daughters Patty Stewart and her husband Jim of Wagoner, and Betsy Haddock, and her husband Bill, of Sapulpa; grandchildren Kathy Neal and her husband Rob Johnston who presently live in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Julia Danklef and her husband Tim Danklef of Dallas, Texas, Beth Teegarden and her husband Bret of Brentwood, Tenn., Cynthia Williams and her husband Chuck, of Sapulpa, Patrick Neal and his wife Diane, of Alexandria, Va., and Tony Baldwin of Tulsa; great-grandchildren Lindsey and Kyle Williams of Sapulpa, Megan Teegarden of Birmingham, Ala., Trenton, Seth, Austin and Kelsey Teegarden of Brentwood, Tenn.; Abby Johnston of Austin, Texas, and Neal Johnston of Buenos Aires, Madalene and Amelia Danklef of Dallas, Texas, Mitchell and Jensen Baldwin of Lawton, and John Patrick Neal of Alexandria, Va.; five brothers and sisters: Rachel Ramsey, and her husband George of Indianola, Wash., Betty Grigor of Tulsa, Ella Smith and her husband Robert of Covina, Calif., Ron Patty and his wife Carolyn of Anderson, Ind., and Harry Patty Jr. and his wife Betty of Mesa, Ariz. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her husband Howard; her parents Harry and Grace Patty; brothers, Raymond and Jack Patty; and sister Opal Lawson.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at Smith Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 17, at Sapulpa First Church of God, 1011 E Hastain.
The family is headquartered at the home of Chuck and Cyndi Williams, 7535 Briar Ridge Lane.
Smith Funeral Home is in charge arrangements.
Esther Bray's photos can be found at: http://www.nealfamilyarchive.com/NealFamilyArchive/Esther-Brays-Photos-Various/Esther-Brays-Photos-Various/20035592_prnq93#!i=1579324353&k=4DjR2BW
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