Ray Stidham

James Ray Stidham, long-time resident of Chandler, Oklahoma, was born September 7, 1921, in Chandler. He departed this life on February 9, 2018, at his daughters home in Del City, Oklahoma, at the age of 96 years. Ray was the son of James Henry Stidham and Lennie Loudella (Rice) Stidham. He attended Pleasant Ridge, a one room school house in Chandler. Ray quit in the 8th grade to help with family responsibilities on the farm. He hauled lumber to Douglas Air Force Base (Tinker AFB) when the base was being built. Ray served in the United States Army, South Pacific from 1942-1945. He and Goldie were married at Harmon General Hospital in Longview, Texas on May 16, 1945. They made their home in Chandler where they raised four children. Ray was a man of many trades. He and Goldie owned a gas station in Chandler. He worked as a toll booth attendant at the Turner Turnpike. Ray was a security guard at the First National Bank in Oklahoma City, drove a school bus for Chandler Public Schools, and drove a Speed-Away gas truck. He was a member of the Chandler First Baptist Church, and American Legion. Ray enjoyed listening to music at Midlothian, and visiting with friends. His parents, wife, four brothers, and two sisters preceded Ray in death. Survivors include, one son, Eugene Stidham and wife Linda of Chandler; three daughters, Connie Carroll of Del City, Melinda Campbell of Oklahoma City, and Pam Combs and husband Jim of Chandler; sister, Wanda Clark and husband Bob of Midwest City; brothers, Bobby Stidham and wife Alice of Sperry, and Lloyd Stidham of Oklahoma City; brother-in-law, Dean Routh of Colorado; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at the Chandler First Baptist Church with Rev. Rick Blackwell officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Chandler, Oklahoma. The Stidham family will be receiving friends and family on Monday, February 12, 2018, from 5:00 PM to 7PM, at the Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Chandler.