Katherine Bray

Graveside services for Katherine Louise Bray, 89, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Barnett Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bray passed away peacefully in her sleep at 2:00 a.m., Sunday, November 21, 2021, at her home.

She was born November 8, 1932, at West Plains, Missouri, to Buford and Dora Johnson Skaggs. On June 9, 1951, she was married at Salem, Arkansas, to Lloyd Wayne, Bray, who preceded her in death on December 16, 1998. Mrs. Bray was an LPN and worked in the OB department at the hospital in West Plains before taking early retirement to stay home and care for her grandchildren. She loved her job as an OB nurse and would often share fond memories of time spent with her co-workers and the babies she helped deliver. She also very much loved her family and cherished the time they spent together working in the hay fields, checking cows and enjoying family meals during holidays or just because. She was a member of the Trailblazers at New Hope Baptist Church, Peace Valley, Missouri and attended services at Smith Chapel, West Plains.

She is survived by three children, Linda Rhoades and husband, Frank, Willmar, Minnesota, Kathy Beaty and Lloyd Gene (Bud) Bray and wife, Catherine, all of West Plains; seven grandchildren, Jim Rhoades and Katherine (Justine) Bolstad, both of Willmar, Minnesota, Elaine Lippincott and husband, Todd, Sealy, Texas, Lea Ann Cozort and Kevin Bray and wife, Ashley, all of West Plains, Keith Bray, Kansas City, Missouri and Justin Bray and wife, Kayci, Springfield, Missouri; seven great-grandchildren, Jessie Rhoads, Gaborick Bolstad, Maddox Bolstad, Emilie Lippincott, Ava Lippincott, Karter Fredrick and Mason Bray; three siblings, Kenneth Skaggs, John Skaggs and wife, Gaye and Karen Henry, all of West Plains; brother-in-law, Tom Wiles, Springfield, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, husband, an infant brother, Jesse Joe Skaggs, two sisters, Vida Hall and Evelyn Gayle Wiles and one great-granddaughter, Ellie Thompson, preceded her in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to Barnett Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com