Walter Bray
Walter Richard Bray
On December 13, 2023, Walter Richard Bray, known by everyone as “Walt,” leftfrom Mountain Home, AR on his greatest adventure. He was born in Weleetka, OK to Buford and Velma Bray on February 1, 1932.
Walt is survived by his wife Leta Pierson Bray and 5 children: Nick Bray, Sheree Anshel, Laura Cox, Edwina (“Eddy”) Kay Piwetz, and Dixie York; a step-daughter Leah Pierson; 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Lucille Lorene (“Renee”) Bray, and a granddaughter, Sheree Anastasia (“Stasie”) Toomey.
Walt graduated from Weleetka High School in 1949 and briefly attended Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, OK (now Oklahoma State University). He had joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 1947, and in 1950 his unit was called to active duty. Walt then served in the 45th Infantry ‘’Thunderbird” Division until late 1951.
In August 1950, when Walt was 18 and his high school sweetheart, Renee, was 16, they eloped and got married in Morris, OK. The two then went to New Orleans for their honeymoon. Bourbon street on Saturday night was a real eye opener for these two young Okie kids.
After completing his military service with the U.S. Army, Walt moved to Levelland, TX in late 1951 where he worked in a cotton gin owned by his father, Buford Bray. Walt had always dreamed of being a pilot, and in the Spring of 1952, he learned to fly. Later that year he became the airport manager of the Levelland Municipal Airport, in addition to working at the cotton gin. In 1955, he moved to Lorenzo, TX where he operated Walt’s Flying Service, a crop spraying business. In 1963, Walt moved to Lamesa, TX where he co-owned and managed Bray Implement Co., a John Deere dealership. For over 30 years he bought, sold and traded farm equipment all over the U.S., Canada, and even in Australia. Eventually, Walt and his children came to be involved in the ownership of 7 John Deere Dealerships.
Walt and Renee spent many years traveling the U.S. and Canada in airplanes and on motorcycles. After 48 years together, Renee died in 1998.
Walt then married Earlene Wood. He and Earlene traveled by airplane, motorcycle, and by motorhome around the U.S. In 2006, Walt purchased vacation property at Valley Airport near Cotter, Arkansas where he had the pleasure of having his own hangar with his airplanes and motorcycles right in his back yard. In 2007 Earlene moved back to Oklahoma. Walt and Earlene were divorced in February 2008.
Not long after that, while at a local church luncheon, Walt met and became acquainted with Leta Kay Pierson from Flippin, Arkansas, and on November 1, 2008, they were married. Walt and Leta would spend the next 15 years traveling by motorhome and enjoying their life together, spending time with their many friends at the Valley Airport in Cotter, AR, as well as time with their friends & relatives in Lamesa, TX and with those they met in the many places they traveled.
Walt loved flying airplanes and riding motorcycles. He shared his love of both with his children and grandchildren as they were growing up by taking trips with them to many places in the United States. He rode his motorcycle to Alaska 3 times. In 2000, he went to Australia, bought a motorcycle, and then rode it 16,000 miles touring that entire continent. During his lifetime, Walt rode approximately 400,000 miles on various motorcycles. His highest mileage day was on his 50th birthday when he rode 1,206 miles.
In the summer of 2005, at the age of 73, he was hired by Skagway Air Service in Skagway, Alaska. He flew numerous flights with this job carrying passengers and freight throughout that summer, fulfilling his long-held dream of flying in Alaska.
Walt always believed he was a very fortunate man. His children loved him, they loved and cared for each other, and each of them are good, kind people. His five siblings were loving to him, and he had married good, kind women.
Walt did not want a funeral. Per his wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. He was an avid supporter of charities providing benefits and assistance to individuals serving in our nation’s military and in all levels of law enforcement. He also supported a number of causes benefiting children and cancer research. Should you wish to do so, simply remember him with a donation to a charity of your choice which will support one or more of these groups.
– Press-Reporter obituary services