The
Rev. Billy Ray Hansford of Norman, OK passed away
Friday May 13, 2011 at Norman, OK. He was 77.
Rev. Hansford was born April 26, 1934 in Hockerville, OK to
LeRoy and Eleanor (Lennox) Hansford. He had lived in the
Picher-Cardin area most of his life until moving to Norman five
years ago.
He graduated from Picher High School in 1952. He served in the
U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict receiving the
Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, United Nations
Service Medal, two Purple Hearts, Gold Star, National Defense
Service Medal, Korean PCU and the Good Conduct Medal First
Award. He recently was awarded “Outstanding Service by a
Veterans Patient” from the DAR in Norman and later by the State
of Oklahoma. He represented veterans in Washington, DC for
Crime Stoppers in Veterans homes.
Rev. Hansford was a Baptist minister for over 40 years serving
in local churches. He worked for B.F. Goodrich in Miami for 27
years, retiring in 1986. He then worked in the maintenance
department at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College retiring from
there in 1996.
He was a member of the Cardin Baptist Church and had coached
Picher girls softball teams Summer League for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and
three sisters.
He married Patricia (Heuett) March 10, 1956 in Miami, OK.
She survives of the home.
Additional survivors include: three daughters, Cheryl Ross of
Quapaw, OK, Carol Hansford of Norman, OK and Billie Renae Cole
of North Miami, OK; one sister, Charlotte Ellis of Fairland,
OK; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild
Funeral services will be Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10 a.m. at the
Paul Thomas Funeral Home of Miami, OK. Rev. Jack Frasier and
Rev. Fred VonMoss will officiate.
Nephews serving as pallbearers will be Bill Ellis, Ray Dean
Hart, Herman Ellis, Jack Hansford, Larry Ellis, Jay B Ellis,
Ronnie Hart and Edgar Hansford.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Heath Ross and John Carroll.
Interment will be in G.A.R. Cemetery, Military Rites will be
conducted by American Legion Post No. 147 Funeral Detail. The
family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the
funeral home. Services are under the direction of the Paul
Thomas Funeral Home of Miami, Ok. Online condolences may be
made at
www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com
