Ray D. Melrose went to meet his Lord & Savior Thurs. evening April 22, 2010. He was born Feb. 6, 1928, in Oklahoma City to Dana Shorty & Leola Melrose. He was raised on local farmland, which was homesteaded by his grandparents during the April 22, 1889, Land Run. Melrose Lane, Melrose Recreation Center & Park still carry his family name. He went to grade school in a one-room schoolhouse & then to Putnam City High School. He loved sports so he entered into wrestling & won the State Championship in his weight. He was such a humble person, not ever wanting to brag, so, we, his daughters will tell on him. After graduating high school in 1945 at age 17, he joined the Navy, serving on the Carrier Antietam. After the war ended, he attended OSU. He later found his sweetheart at Bethany High School & married Dec. 27, 1949. They celebrated 60 years of marriage Dec. 2009. They raised 2 daughters, Linda & Sherryl. Ray always wanted his own business so after schooling he started Melrose Air Cond. & Heating in 1960, which still continues on after 50 years. He was a pilot, Bethany City Councilman, & Pres. of the now disbanded Air Cond. Council of Central OK. He has been a faithful member of the Bethany Kiwanis Club for almost 40 years, Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, past board member of Bethany Chamber of Commerce and he was the 2002 recipient of the Bethany Hall of Fame Award. He was an avid supporter of SNU Basketball. Rays life has been filled with serving and loving others with a giving heart as he walked daily with Jesus. Ray is survived by his wife, Pat, 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by his beloved sister and brother-in-law, Ruby and Densmore Bryan, 9 beloved sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews & friends. Visitation will be held from 9am-9pm Mon. & Tues. at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service with the family receiving visitors between 6-8pm on Tues. Funeral services will be Wed., April 28, at 2:00pm at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, with interment to follow in Bethany Cemetery.