Samuel A Pray

THE VISITATION AND PRAYER SERVICE HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR MSGT SAMUEL PRAY, JR. USAF DUE TO WEATHER. MSgt Samuel A. Pray, Jr. USAF (Ret) passed away Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Ashby Life Center surrounded by family and friends. Visitation will be Sunday, January 26, 2014 from 2-5 pm with a prayer service at 4 pm in Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville. Burial will be at Fort Snelling on Monday. Samuel, son of Samuel A. Pray, Sr. and Martha (Hunter) Pray, was born in Oklahoma City, OK on November 16, 1936. He spent his early years in Arkansas and graduated from Van Buren Arkansas High School in 1954. He enlisted in the USAF within days of graduation and served 28 years on active duty before retiring in June 1982. Samuel was united in marriage to Aneta LaFayette at St. James United Church of Christ, Barnesville, MN on December 14, 1962. Two sons, Samuel and Eric, were born to this union. The marriage ended in divorce in 1993. He resided in the Barnesville area from June 1982 until he entered the Ashby Care Center in June 2013. Samuel is survived by his sons: Samuel (Terri) Pray, Pelican Rapids, MN, and Eric Pray, currently on active duty with the US Navy and stationed in Guam; six grandchildren: Nicole, Cassie, Justin, Sarah, Ian and Jack. He is also survived by his brother, Douglas Pray of Yakima, WA; two nephews: Doug, Jr. and Tim and one niece, Kathy. He is preceded in death by his parents, step-father John Moskwinski, sister-in-law, Shirley (Julsrud) Pray and nephew, Alan Pray.