Updated: 18 Apr 2007
Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, OK
May 2, 2002
Ray Michael Paxson
Ray Michael Paxson, 79, died Wednesday, May 1, 2002 in Oklahoma City. He was
born January 12, 1923, in El Dorado, KS. Ray entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and
served with the 149th Infantry in the Pacific during World War II. He fought
with the famed 38th 'Cyclone' Infantry Division known in history as the
'Avengers of Bataan.' Ray received many service and campaign medals including
the Distinguished Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. Ray was a third
generation worker with Carter Oil Company after the war and moved to Woodward,
OK in 1960 where he owned the Hilltop Motel for 32 years and the Hilltop Market
with his wife, Mary. Ray and Mary retired in 1992 and moved to Del City, OK
where Ray worked full-time transforming his yard into a beautiful garden. Ray
was a natural carpenter and he enjoyed planning his projects as much as he
enjoyed seeing them through to fruition.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Leland and Letha (Pettyjohn)
Paxson and his first wife, Billie Stewart.
Survivors include his devoted wife of 42 years, Mary, children, Sandra Reid of
Del City, Gary Paxson and his wife, Linda, of Elk City and Jim Abernathy and his
wife Mira of Seattle, WA. He is also survived by his brothers and their wives,
Don and Ann Paxson of OKC and Perry and Nadine Paxson of Westville, IL. Ray was
blessed with seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren and many nieces and
nephews.
Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2002, at the Bill Eisenhour
Southeast Chapel 405-672-1321 with burial in Sunny Lane Cemetery.
Source: Rootsweb Message Board