Ray Dean Donnell

Ray Dean Donnell, 83, passed away Friday, April 14, 2006 at a local hospital. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, April 17 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel; 6449 Buffalo Gap Road with Les McGalliard, minister of Oldham Lane Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic Section of the Abilene Municipal Cemetery. Ray Dean Donnell was born September 1, 1922, to Sam Donnell and Grace (Beaty) Donnell in Archie, Missouri. On September 28, 1946, Ray married Lavoise Celeste Jones in Wink, Texas. He graduated from Archie High School in Archie Missouri in 1939. After graduation he worked for Boeing Aircraft Experimental Department in Seattle Washington on the first B-29 bomber. Ray later enlisted in the Army Air Corp. serving in Italy as an armorer in the 48th 4th Bomb Group. After serving in the army, Ray worked as a civilian at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1954 to 1976. Ray was baptized in 1957 and was a member of the Church of Christ. Ray Donnell is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lavoise Donnell of Abilene, two sons, Clifford Donnell and wife, Becky of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Nils Donnell and wife, Martha of Abilene; his brother, Robert Donnell of Seattle, Washington; three grandchildren, Selinda Taylor, and husband Mike of Lodi, California, Scott Donnell and wife, Jenna of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Kyle Donnell of Abilene, and two great grandchildren, Lauren and Logan Taylor, and several nieces and nephews. Ray Donnell was preceded in death by his parents Sam Donnell, Grace Donnell, and his sister Mary Louise Lohr. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to DeQueen Arkansas Church of Christ.