Carol Jean (Hodge) Ray, age 83, a lifelong Atoka, OK resident was born on Saturday, November 2, 1935, to Delbert and Idee Bell (Yandell) Hodge, in Holdenville, OK. Carol passed away on Saturday, January 19, 2019 in Coalgate, OK. She attended Harmony Elementary School, graduated from Atoka High School in 1954 and then attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she received a degree to teach. Carol taught first grade at Thunderbird Elementary and Mamie Johnson Elementary in Atoka, OK. Her greatest joys in life were her many first grade students; she believed that God blessed her every year with 20-25 First Graders that she called her own. She married Richard "Doc" Brinkley and together they taught in Oregon and Idaho. She returned to Oklahoma after his passing. On July 19, 1968 she married Oliver "OP" Perry Ray in Atoka, OK. Carol was a longtime member of Caney Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Atoka. She worked very hard supporting the Atoka Alumni Association. Carol enjoyed working in her yard, her flower gardens were beautiful and her yard earned the designation of an Oklahoma wildlife backyard. She loved seeing God's beauty in nature.

Carol is survived by her brother, Jim Hodge and wife Ginger of Lake Tenkiller, OK; uncle, Kenneth J. (Toodie) Yandell of Durant, OK; cousin, Linda (Yandell, Jackson, Spradley) and husband Terry and many other Yandell cousins; sister-in-law, Sue Hilton of Atoka, OK; nieces & nephews, Pennie Hodge Kaven and husband of Durant, OK, Ben Hodge of Utah, David Ray and wife Janet of Atoka, OK, Valerie Ray of Washington State, Beverly Ray Cochran and husband Scott of Atoka, OK, Jan Corbin and husband Bill of Gladewater, TX; very special cousin, Kim "Carol" Dale and husband Dwayne of Atoka, OK; all the "Carols", Linda Carol, Kimberley "Kim" Carol, Kaylee Carol, Krimsyn Carol and others; along with numerous other in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, relatives, and many dear and loved friends.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Delbert and Idee Bell (Yandell) Hodge; husbands, Doc Brinkley and "OP" Perry Ray; sister-in-law: Celtia Hodge .

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DATE OF SERVICES: 03:00 PM Friday, January 25th, 2019

PLACE OF GRAVESIDE SERVICES: Green Meadows Cemetery, Atoka, Oklahoma

OFFICIATING: Bro Joe Chapin and Bro.Jeremy Parham

INTERMENT: Green Meadows Cemetery, Atoka, Oklahoma

CASKETBEARERS: Dwayne Dale, Dillon Cochran, Dustin Cochran, Jeff Ray, David Hauff, Lynn Wallis

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Atoka Maroon and Gold Alumni Association Members

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE RUTH WILSON HURLEY MANOR CAROL RAY MEMORIAL FUND

7 N. Covington St. Coalgate, OK 74538

CONDOLENCES MAY BE SENT TO THE FAMILY BY EMAIL TO: BROWNS@ATOKA.NET.  PLEASE REFERENCE THE NAME OF THE DECEASED IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE

NO FAMILY NIGHT SCHEDULED BUT VISITATION IS THURSDAY 6-8PM

SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

BROWN 'S FUNERAL SERVICE - ATOKA, OK