Ray Roland Matoy

Ray Roland Matoy died Dec. 14, 2014, at the age of 96. Born in Guthrie, OK, he was the second of three sons born to George Clarence and Jennie Belle Thurman Matoy. During WWII on April 16, 1942, he married Helen Louise Springer when Ray was a Captain in the U.S. Army stationed in Georgia and Oregon. They were married 69 years before Helens death in 2011. They had four children: Ray Monroe, who died as an infant; Robert Levan Matoy of Saginaw, Mich.; Elizabeth Anne Matoy of Stillwater, and Linda Sue Matoy Rieser of New Glarus, Wis.
Ray Matoy became a Boy Scout at the age of 11 , technically age 12 according to his insurance agent Scoutmaster. In eighth grade he received a ride to the junior high from the local Deputy Scout Executive and decided that professional Scouting was the career for him.
Professional Scouting required two years of college, a problem during the depression, but he was promised a room and job in return for help with a Boy Scout troop in Stillwater. Ray graduated from Oklahoma A. and M. College in 1942 and began a lifelong career in professional Scouting. He was the first camp director of Will Rogers Scout Reservation in 1939 and was present last spring for the 75th anniversary. He served as a Council Executive in Tulsa, Ft. Worth, Stillwater and Ponca City before moving to Heidelberg, Germany, to serve as the Boy Scout Executive for Transatlantic Council serving the youth members of Armed Services and Embassy personnel stationed in 15 countries in Europe and North Africa. Upon returning to the United States, Ray was the Scout Executive in Saginaw, Mich. and Madison, Wis. before retiring to Stillwater.
Rays lifelong dedication to Scouting extended into his retirement when he served as a volunteer with the Will Rogers Council. He authored Thunderbird Tracks: An Early History of the Will Rogers Council, Boy Scouts of America, served on the Board of Directors and was awarded the Silver Beaver. He was a member of Stillwater and Madison, Wis., Rotary Clubs and served as president of the Ponca City Rotary Club. He was also a deacon in First Presbyterian Club of Ponca City and member of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge.
Ray is survived by his children, Bob, Anne, and Sue and their spouses: Gay Matoy, Mike Banks, and Bob Rieser. He has 11 grandchildren and their spouses: Heather and Clay Berger (Bella Vista, Ark.), Kirsten Matoy Carlson and Dwayne Jarman (Detroit, Mich.), Aaron Carlson (Stillwater), Kendra Carlson (Bentonville, Ark.), Alyson and Matt Lynch (Madison, Wis.), Russell and Kate Matoy (Atlanta, Ga.), Heidi and John Brey (Waupaca, Wis.), James Matoy (Saginaw, Mich.), Eric and Jenny Matoy (Orion, Mich.), Jason Matoy (Waterford, Mich.), Sarah Kalise and Ryan Horst (Waunakee, Wis.), and Lisa and Zach Bahr (Olathe, Kansas). There are 15 great grandchildren: Brooke Berger, Dayna Brey, Caroline Berger, Autumn Banks, Grace Jarman, Abigail Carlson, Caden Carlson, Payson Horst, William Jarman, Kaylee Bahr, Max Brey, Katie Matoy, Avery and Callen Horst, and Caleb Bahr.
Services are under the direction of Palmer Marler funeral Home and will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater. Public visitation will be held at from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cimarron Council-BSA for refurbishment of the dining hall at Will Rogers Scout Reservation and sent to the Palmer Marler Funeral Home, 5106 North Washington, Stillwater, OK 74075.
Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guest book at www.pmcfh.com