Ray E. Shull, 87, Carthage, Mo., passed away Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, at Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital, Carthage. Ray E. Shull was born March 5, 1925, in Duenweg, Mo., the son of Raymond Estel Shull and Elsie Fern (Patrick) Shull. He attended public schools in Duenweg, Joplin, Carthage, and was a 1943 graduate of Carthage High School. He also graduated from Missouri Southern State College, Joplin. Ray was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the European and African campaigns. He married Dorothy Ada Frost on Feb. 11, 1950, in Joplin. She survives. Ray and Dorothy were involved in farming from 1950 to the present. He was named the Missouri Farmer of the Year in 1970 by the University of Missouri. He was a member of the Carthage Rotary Club for 43 years, serving as the President in 1973, and the Clubs Sky-Pilot for many years. He and his wife were actively involved in the AFS exchange student program for 38 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Carthage, for over 65 years. Additional survivors include two daughters, Mary Ada Bell and her husband, Curtis, Carthage, and Cathy Stark and her husband, Charlie, Carthage; two sons, Ray Lee Shull, Austin, Texas, and John Warren Shull and his wife, Sharon, College Station, Texas; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one daughter, Karen Nell Lundgren and her husband, Mark. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the First United Methodist Church, Carthage. Rev. James Lee will officiate. Private family inurnment will be in Fasken Cemetery, Carthage. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to the Carthage Rotary Scholarship Fund in care of Knell Mortuary, 308 West Chestnut, Carthage, MO 64836 in his name. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com

(Joplin Globe • November 28, 2012) via Floyd Smith