Hal Ray Nine

At a young age, Hal was very sick and his dad cried out to the Lord to save him, and in that prayer, dedicated Hal back to the Lord. Hal did spend his life serving the Lord. Hal attended Overstreet Schoolhouse often riding his pony, uphill both ways, to and from school. He attended and graduated from Laverne High School in 1969. Hal earned his bachelor's degree at Oklahoma State University and his master’s degree at Auburn University. Hal put Christ first and went on to be a missionary overseas for a little over two years in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Swaziland. He was asked to coach the Olympic track team in Liberia for the Olympics, but a boycott kept them from attending. Following his overseas missionary work, Hal spent 3 years serving as an associate pastor and helped start a church in Victorville, CA. Later, he spent 20+ years faithfully serving in prison ministry at Fort Supply every Sunday night, and filled in as speaker in several churches around the area. Hal returned home to farm and ranch, and while attending a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference in Fort Collins, CO, Hal met Lu Ann Phelps from Michigan. Two years later they married and made their home in Slapout, OK. To this marriage, they welcomed three sons, Landon, Caleb, and Josh, and one daughter, Hallie Ann. He loved to teach and coach fundamentals, and enjoyed coaching multiple t-ball through high school teams in soccer, basketball, and baseball. Hal started the homeschool and Christian school All-Star basketball and baseball teams. He and Lu Ann homeschooled their three boys through all twelve grades. Hal served on the Slapout volunteer fire department with his sons for many years. He loved to buy and start yearlings and good horses. He also enjoyed saddling his boys’ horses so they could learn to ride with him, and having his sons help process cattle and run the chute, even though it took three times longer to get the job done. Hal had immeasurable patience. He enjoyed seeing his family succeed in life, but his greatest desire was that his family would know and follow Christ. The highlight of his later years, was teaching and working with his beloved grandkids, a favorite of his being branding cattle. Hal was given six months to live in January of 2017. With determination, he lived another 5 years enjoying his family and ministering to his grandkids.

 

Hal was welcomed into Heaven by daughter Hallie Ann, parents Bernard and Phyllis, and Father and Mother-in-law Sidney and Mary Lou Phelps. 

 

He is survived by wife Lu Ann, of the home, sons Landon, Caleb and wife Anita, and Josh and wife Randi. He was blessed with seven grandchildren Hallie Ann, Remi, Tuf, Hagen, Dallin, Tru, and Tye. He is also survived by siblings and their spouses, numerous nephews and nieces, and cousins.