Letha Mae McCray

Graveside services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 29 at Alva Municipal Cemetery, Alva, Okla. Following the service A Celebration of Life will be held at the Salt Fork Event Center, 27281 CR 460, Alva. Arrangements are under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Letha Mae McCray, 86, passed away Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 at Fairview Fellowship Home in Fairview, Okla. Letha, the oldest of five children, was born on the families Washita County farm near Corn Okla, Dec. 15, 1939, to John and Edna Duerksen. She had three brothers: Gilbert, Glen and Clyde Duerksen; and one sister, Lois Benedict, who were all born in the Cordell Hospital. She married Bob McCray Nov. 20, 1987 in Wichita Falls, Texas. Bob and Letha made their first home in Alva and later moved to the farm south of Alva. Letha was raised in a strong work ethic German Mennonite Christian farm home. Early in life she had her own milking stool, made by her father, and helped her mother, Edna, milk cows twice a day along with other farm chores. Up until the time of her passing Letha still disdained working in the garden, saying there is a reason they have grocery stores. As a child, growing up on the Duerksen farm, the family spoke fluent German and when Letha attended first grade, at Cloud Chief, Okla., she was teased because she didn’t speak English. Her parents, John and Edna, recognized their shortcoming, and began speaking English everyday on the farm, so Letha’s siblings would not suffer the same teasing on their first day of school. Letha attended Cloud Chief School thru the eighth grade and began her freshman year at Corn Bible Academy in Corn, Okla., graduating in 1958. Following graduation she moved to Oklahoma City to attend a one year business school. She lived with the McCubbin family in Nichols Hills, attending school during the day and helped in the home with the small children in the evening. She began a career in accounting that spanned nearly five decades, starting with Phipps Motors in Cordell. Letha always worked outside the home at multiple businesses in Alva, including, Frank Morefield Accounting, Pat Parkhurst Public Accountant, Shafer TV, Wheeler Brothers, Perry Tire and K&S Tire. Letha was known for her kindness, integrity, and dedication to each business along with - never taking a sick day - always showing up for work. She never retired from working. She did retire from working outside the home, but worked from home when she and Bob co-founded Bob McCray, INC., contract pumping service. Letha did the accounting and Bob did the heavy lifting and dirty work. At the height of Bob McCray, INC., the company employed several contract servicemen that oversaw some 250 oil wells. Along with pumping wells in the morning, Bob farmed and ranched in the afternoons. With the successful oil field service venture, Bob and Letha continued to purchase farms and expand their cow calf operation. One of the first farms they purchased, an oil well was drilled and proved to be a good well. Bob requested the well be name Letha Mae number one. Frugal successful business operations allowed Bob and Letha to phase out of the oil field services and focus more on cow calf operations. Bob often said, “If I’d married her sooner, I’d own half or at least the majority of Woods County.” Letha is survived by two daughters, Kim Whyburn, Edmond and Jo Hammer and husband, Hoby, Fairview; one son, Kevin McCray and wife, Mary, Tuttle; daughter-in-law, Tammie Schmidt, Elk City; sister, Lois Benedict, Carmen; brothers, Gilbert Duerksen and wife, Rhonda, and Clyde Duerksen and wife, Mitzi, both of Cordell; sisters-in-law, Joyce McCray, Alva, and Rachael Prestwood and husband Jack, Wichita Falls; 12 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter, along with numerous friends and family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in 2019; her parents; two sons, Rusty Schmidt and Alan McCray Jr.; son-in-law, David Whyburn; granddaughter, Jamie Schmidt; grandson, Jeremy Baxter; brother, Glen Duerksen; and brother-in-law, Jack McCray. Memorials contributions may be made through the funeral home to OMRF for Alzheimer’s or Lupus research.

Letha Mae McCray

December 15, 1939 - August 24, 2026