James Raymond Mcquaid

James Raymond McQuaid, age 82, of Mt .View , OK and Mineral Wells, TX died January 2nd, 2011. Ray was born in Mt. View, to James Claude and Alma Mattie McQuaid. Mr. McQuaid was preceded in death by his parents, son, John Raymond McQuaid, a brother, Glen McQuaid, and his first wife, Joann B. McQuaid. Survivors include his wife, Jeme McQuaid of Mt. View, daughter, Celia McQuaid Brown and her husband Tim, a grandson, Timothy McQuaid Brown of Hull, Georgia, and a sister, Martha Suther of Mineral Wells, TX. He also had many cherished nieces and nephews.

Ray was a United States Navy veteran, attending flight school in Pensacola, FL during WWII. He also attended college at Southwestern and Oklahoma University. Early in life Ray was in the aerial spraying business and went on to work as the assistant chief of rotary wing maintenance at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, and Superintendent of Maintenance at the Ft. Wolters, TX, Helicopter School with Southern Airways. He also owned and operated McQuaid Helicopters for fifty years. After retiring from aviation Ray spent time opening a grocery store in Mt.View, OK and helping to establish the Mt. View Museum. Ray was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas. He was also active as a Master Mason with the Mt. View Masonic Lodge, 168, a 32nd. degree Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason, Knights Templar, Grotto, Life Member of Moslah Shrine and Moslah Shrine Directors. He was serving as the President of the Saddle Mountain Roundup Club in Oklahoma at his death.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Mountain View Museum or to the Shriners Burn Center Hospital, Galveston, TX

Services: 10:30a.m. Thursday January 6, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church, Mt. View, OK
Burial: 2:30p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Lawton, OK

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Mt. View, OK

You may send online condolences to the family at RayAndMarthas.com