Raymond Gray Duke

Raymond Gray Duke, Jr., of Porum Landing, passed away on September 21, 2015, at Eufaula Manor in Eufaula, OK, at the age of 69. Ray was the first of three children born to Raymond, Sr. and Thelma Duke. He was born at MacDill Field Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and the family later settled in Oklahoma City. He was a graduate of Moore High School in 1964 and became an apprentice electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that same year. He became a journeyman electrician in 1968 and was a 50-year member of the electrical union Local 1141. In addition to his full time job as an electrician, Ray spent 17 years farming and raising horses, cattle and pigs in the river bottom area of Norman. He had four children who were exposed to the values and life lessons to be learned from hard work and the responsibilities of caring for animals. He was very involved with his children in various sports and FFA activities and coached several soccer teams over the years. By August of 1983, Ray had left farming behind and moved to Oklahoma City, where he married Alice Marie Morrison and went to work for AT&T Technologies as a plant electrician where he remained for 13 years. Ray moved from the Oklahoma City area in May of 1995 to his home on lake Eufaula and became an electrical contractor operating a business out of his home in the Duchess Creek area. Ray became a Mason in 1979 at Myrtle Lodge in Okla. City, and transferred to Checotah & Eufaula Lodges when he moved to the lake. He was a three time Past Master at Checotah Lodge and had held numerous offices in both lodges. Ray was also a member of the Bedouin Shrine Center in Muskogee. He worked very hard and gave unselfishly of his time and money, having a true love for the principles of Masonry. He was a member of and attended church regularly at Trinity Episcopal in Eufaula where he had served as acolyte during Sunday services and currently held the office of Junior Warden. Hunting and fishing were some of his varied interests. He loved to cook for large groups of people and derived great joy from the chance to feed a crowd. He loved yard work and gardening, growing many vegetables he wouldn"t even eat, but wanted to give away to everybody. He also enjoyed camping and travelling to new spots in his 5th wheel trailer with his family and friends. Ray is survived by his wife of 32 years, Alice, and son Jesse James, of the home; daughters Candace Duke-Belsher and husband Adam of Ontario, Canada, Kristy Owen and husband Kelly of Moore; his sons Tracy Duke of Tuttle and Sydney Duke and wife Misty of Lexington, OK; thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother Thelma Duke and a sister Sharon Darrow of Oklahoma City, OK, as well as other relatives and a multitude of friends. . Ray was preceded in death by his brother Floyd Duke, son Raymond A. Duke, and father Raymond G. Duke, Sr. He was also preceded in death by his step-son James Morrison, Jr. (Jamey).