Ray LaVerne Hall

Ray LaVerne Hall passed at the age of 88 on October 31, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born on July 27, 1937 in Great Bend, Kansas to William Ray Hall and Jessie May Haney, an only child of two only children.

Every person has a birth and a death, but what one does with the dash between those dates defines the person. Ray lived that dash fully – first as a strong-willed child growing up in Albion, Illinois, then as a working artist at the Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, and as an Army sharp-shooter serving in the Alaska wilderness just as it was becoming a state. These experiences as a young man shaped his love for the outdoors, history, art, and travel experiences.

After the Army, Ray returned to Illinois to apprentice as a chef in Chicago and start his professional career with the Fred Harvey Company, a renowned hotel & restaurant chain. He was known for his ice and food sculptures and for being the “fix it man” for locations that needed to be set straight during his tenure. Most importantly, Ray met his “Harvey Girl” and love of his life, Linda Lee Schuth, at the O’Hare Oasis and they married on February 4, 1967.

His career took Ray & Linda from Chicago to Indianapolis, St. Louis, and many other cities, and along that journey he created his own family with the births of Rhett, Shane, & Erin. But Ray always lived life on his own terms and chose to exit the corporate world to open his own restaurant, The Old House, in Grove, Oklahoma in 1977.

Ray served on the Grove Fire Department, drove a school bus, worked as an EMT for Grove General, and taught rescue courses as a field trainer for Oklahoma State University to make ends meet, and eventually operated Lake Area Fire Extinguisher after closing his restaurant in 1984. He was a quiet, unassuming man, who never realized the impact he has had on so many people.

In his 70’s & 80’s, Ray shared his love of adventure and travel with various members of his family on trips to places like Jamaica, Holland, Kenya, Switzerland, & Iceland. He also traveled frequently with the Good to Go group, going to Southeast Asia in November 2024 as his last big adventure. There were many trips within the U.S. during the course of his life too – trips to Chicago & San Diego to visit family and numerous trips to Colorado to spend time with his close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Linda, and grandson Cole Ray Hall. He leaves his legacy behind with son Rhett Hall and wife Judy, son Shane Hall and wife Jessica, daughter Erin Hall, as well as grandchildren Kaden and husband Brian, Austin, and great-grandchild Alexx.

Family was the most important aspect of Ray’s life, followed very closely by his strong friendships. He lived his life loving HIS people unconditionally, gathering around food & music, telling stories of all his adventures, and creating lasting memories with his creative & unique approach to life.

In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to an organization of your choosing, in the memory and giving spirit of Ray L. Hall.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Worley Luginbuel Chapel with memorial services starting at 11 a.m.