The Richmond News, Feb. 24, 2023

March 2, 1970-Feb. 13, 2023 52 years, 11 months, 17 days Dale Ray Mathews, 52, originally from Orrick, left this Earth and travelled to Heaven on Feb. 13, 2023.

He was born on March 2, 1970, in Richmond to Dale and Marge (Robertson) Mathews. He was a lifelong Orrick resident and received his education in the Orrick public schools. Ray Mathews

Ray graduated in 1988 from Orrick High School.

Ray worked as a self-employed carpenter. He worked with his father Dale for many years. He built several new houses, housing additions and remodeled many businesses, such as Gowing Funeral Home in 1992, Fubbler’s (now Jayder’s Cove) and the Masonic Lodge in Missouri City. He took pride in the work he completed. His craftsmanship will be greatly missed in the areas where he worked and lived.

After a lifetime of rejecting the Gospel, Ray came to know the Lord in 2005, when he watched his oldest daughter get baptized. If you know anything about Ray Mathews, you know that whatever he did, he did 100 percent. And his commitment to the Lord was no different.

He immediately joined the First Baptist Church of Orrick and connected himself with the pastor. He was hungry to learn as much as he could. After about a year of absorbing everything that he could from the word of God, he declared the call to preach. His pastor mentored him, got him prepared and gave him the opportunity to minister the word.

Ray had a hunger for preaching and teaching and became a sought-after minister in the surrounding communities for pulpit fill and for revivals. It was then that he was invited to become a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Orrick, where he served with distinction and honored the Lord. The apostle Paul told Timothy to be diligent, to study the word and to “fulfill his ministry.” Ray Mathews did that with distinction.

Ray was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Paul and Dortha Mathews; and his maternal grandfather, Fred Willard.

Survivors include his children, Autumne (Jim) Heffernen of Fayetteville, Ark., Riley Mathews of Liberty, Payton Mathews of Liberty and Joshua Mathews of Warrensburg; parents, Dale and Marge Mathews of Orrick; and sister, Dalla (Mark) McMullen of Orrick. He is survived by his nieces; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of life for Ray will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at The Home Place at Valley View, 35920 W. Highway T, Camden.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made payable to Dalla McMullen or made directly to his memorial fund at The Bank of Orrick.