Hershel Ray Luther

Ray Luther, 86, of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024. He was born October 27, 1937 in Washington County, Arkansas to Arley and Etha Luther. He graduated from high school in Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 1955 when he was 16 years old. His teacher, Laura Johnson (also his aunt}, did not have enough students for school so she asked Ray's mother if he could go to school. He started school when he was four years old. Ray and Faye met in church at Weddington Baptist Church. They were married July 3, 1959 in the home of a friend. Ray and Faye would have celebrated 65 years of marriage on July 3rd of this year. Ray was drafted in the Vietnam War in 1960 the day Faye graduated from high school. He was a marksman in Four Battery B, 1st Howitzer Battalion, 142nd Division Artillery. He was honorably discharged on June 29th, 1966. Ray worked hard all of his life. He started plowing the garden with a team of mules at age 8 for his dad who was disabled. Ray had several jobs but worked in the dairy industry most of his life. Ray picked up milk in milk cans from farm to farm. Ray also had a molasses mill and sold that from farm to farm at the same time. Ray was employed by Foremost Foods Company with a position in sales over Eastern Oklahoma. In 1982 he became a self-employed contractor with Foremost Foods Company. After having his own business and a very successful dairy operation, he sold the business in 1988 and retired for the first time. He returned to the dairy industry as branch manager for Hiland Dairy and retired again in 2003 after 42 years in the dairy industry. He began working again in 2011 for Indian Capital Technology Center and retired for the third time in April 2024. Ray enjoyed hunting and fishing and he had a lifetime hunting and fishing license. Ray was also an avid sports fan of football, basketball, baseball, and softball. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, and his brother. Ray is survived by his loving wife, Faye, of the home; his son Wayne and wife Margaret Luther of Muskogee; daughter Brenda and husband Danny Shiew of Muskogee; and daughter Sandy Seals of Creston, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A celebration of Ray's life will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 at Ash Street Baptist Church with Pastor David Yarbrough officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee with military honors being presented.

Hershel Ray Luther

October 27, 1937 - June 9, 2024