Ray Heyer

Charles R. Heyer, 83, of Nowata, went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday in Nowata. Charles - or Ray as he was known - was born the son of Charles August and Lucy G. (Stauffer) Heyer on July 10, 1935, in Manhattan, KS. His mother shared that he started talking at nine months and never stopped. Ray loved to visit with anyone. As a teen the family moved to Colorado Springs for a few years before settling in Arkansas. He graduated high school in Maynard, AR, in 1952. Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the age of 14 and received a calling to the ministry at age 18. His ministry led him to fill in at churches that were without ministers and at the many camp meetings the family attended. While attending a reunion in Ohio, Ray met a nice young lady Joan McKee. Over the next year they fell in love while sustaining a long-distance relationship. They united in matrimony on November 5, 1954, in Colorado Springs, and enjoyed 64 years of loving marriage. Ray and Joan made their home in Colorado where all seven of their children were born. In 1971 the family moved to their current home in Nowata. Ray was a hard worker and a good provider for his family: he worked for area auto dealerships, which led him to open his own auto repair business in Nowata. Once retired Ray and Joan enjoyed doing many things together including eating breakfast at Braums with their daughter Lois. Most of all he was concerned and prayed for each one of his children to maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He will be dearly missed. Ray is survived by his loving wife of the home, Joan Louise Heyer; four children, Daniel Ray Heyer and Cindy of Skiatook, James Nathan Heyer and Kriss of Seneca, MO, Rachel Louise Heyer of Nowata, and Joy Lynn Boevers and Gary of Greenville, OH; daughter in laws Gail Heyer of Eolia, MO, and Louise Heyer of Bartlesville; one brother David Heyer and Sophia of Colorado; sister in law Emily Heyer of Bryant, AR; 25 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; three children, Roger Neal Heyer, Joseph Wayne Heyer and Lois Ilene Heyer; one brother Phillip Heyer; and three sisters, Marian Fairweather, Norma Heyer and Carole Van Wagenen. Ray’s family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home – Walker Brown Chapel, 918-333-7665, 4201 Nowata Rd, Bartlesville, on Sunday, November 18, from 3-5 p.m. Visitation will also be held on Sunday from 12-5. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. on Monday, November 19, 2018, at the Davis Family Funeral Home – Walker Brown Chapel. Interment will follow in the White Rose Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Ray Heyer

July 10, 1935 - November 15, 2018