James Carol Bray

James Carol Bray died Feb. 4, 2011, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer"�s Disease. He was born Sept. 20, 1930, the youngest son of Toels and Ramah Bray. As a child, he attended Tillman School, a one-room schoolhouse near Ozark; he graduated from Ozark High School in 1948, as did his children and grandchildren after him. Carol valued education and took great pride in the fact that his children and grandchildren all graduated from college. He married Barbara Campbell Jan. 5, 1951, and they were members of Ozark First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. After working, first for Ozark Wholesale Grocery and later for Dayco Products in Springfield, Carol spent his retirement raising cattle and tending his apple orchard on the farm where he was born. He enjoyed sharing his apple harvest, regularly using his grandfather"�s cider press to quench the thirst of Sunday school classes and numerous groups of elementary kids. Carol also loved to go camping in Arkansas with friends and especially with his great grandchildren. Spending time almost daily with his great grandchildren filled his life with joy. Carol is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara; a sister, Wilda Baxter; a brother and his wife, Dwayne and Nancy Bray; two children and their spouses: Ann and Ron Asbury, and Don and Jo Ann Bray; two granddaughters and their spouses: Amanda and Clint Nurnberg, and Regina and Billy Hower; four beloved great grandchildren: Samuel Toels Nurnberg, Sophia Nurnberg, Will Hower and Gemma Hower; and a special little dog: Lucy. The family would like to express their gratitude for the compassion and support provided by St. John"�s Hospice during the last month of Carol"�s life. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Friday, February 11, in Adams Funeral Home, Ozark, with Pastor Troy Rhoden and Pastor Jim Jeffries officiating. Burial will follow in Linden Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 "� 7:00 PM Thursday in the funeral home.