Everett Ray Call, retired executive editor of The Emporia Gazette, died February 14, 2014 at his home. He and his wife Helen first came to Emporia in 1955 upon his discharge from two years of active duty in the Army Reserve. They had been stationed in Alaska before it became a state.
Ray also served from 1993 to 2004 on the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications, which hears complaints against judges. He was active in Republican politics and was one of the delegates who nominated Richard Nixon for a second term as president.
Ray was born near Sedan, Kansas on February 5, 1932, the son of Lee and Nettie Goode Call. He attended Sedan schools, Coffeyville Junior College and Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. He taught in rural schools around Sedan for three years before going on active duty for two years in the Army Reserve. He married Helen Dalton on April 4, 1954 in Sedan. She then joined him at Port of Whittier in Alaska.
Cremation has taken place and the remains will be buried in the columbarium at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Emporia. Memorial contributions to the Emporia Public Library or the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia.
Survivors include his wife Helen of the home, two children, John Call of Arvada, Colorado, and Julie Call of Emporia, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister, Shirley Myers of Sedan, Kansas. A daughter Elizabeth Fortna, died in 2008 and a brother, Gerald Leon Call died in infancy.
Ray was active for many years in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, including terms on the vestry and as senior warden. He also was involved in state and national press organizations.
His hobbies included fishing, reading history, collecting antique fountain pens, and playing in dance bands. He became a drummer in high school and continued to play in bands of the region on and off for over 50 years. He and his wife traveled extensively, taking trips to Europe, the Middle East, South America, the Caribbean and Taiwan.
After his retirement he helped with local history books for the Emporia Chamber of Commerce and Emporia State University. He also wrote a book entitles “Emporia’s Ascent” about the town’s growth in the last half of the 20th Century.
His journalism career started in the 1950s when he taught in county schools of Chautauqua County and was a part-time correspondent in Sedan for the Coffeyville Daily Journal. After he finished active duty in Alaska, Ray came to Emporia to attend college on the G.I. Bill and worked part-time at The Gazette. He later changed careers to become a full-time Gazette employee, first as a photographer, then as a reporter and editor. He retired in 1996 with the title of Executive Editor. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Everett Ray Call, please visit our flower store.
Ray also served from 1993 to 2004 on the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications, which hears complaints against judges. He was active in Republican politics and was one of the delegates who nominated Richard Nixon for a second term as president.
Ray was born near Sedan, Kansas on February 5, 1932, the son of Lee and Nettie Goode Call. He attended Sedan schools, Coffeyville Junior College and Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. He taught in rural schools around Sedan for three years before going on active duty for two years in the Army Reserve. He married Helen Dalton on April 4, 1954 in Sedan. She then joined him at Port of Whittier in Alaska.
Cremation has taken place and the remains will be buried in the columbarium at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Emporia. Memorial contributions to the Emporia Public Library or the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia.
Survivors include his wife Helen of the home, two children, John Call of Arvada, Colorado, and Julie Call of Emporia, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister, Shirley Myers of Sedan, Kansas. A daughter Elizabeth Fortna, died in 2008 and a brother, Gerald Leon Call died in infancy.
Ray was active for many years in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, including terms on the vestry and as senior warden. He also was involved in state and national press organizations.
His hobbies included fishing, reading history, collecting antique fountain pens, and playing in dance bands. He became a drummer in high school and continued to play in bands of the region on and off for over 50 years. He and his wife traveled extensively, taking trips to Europe, the Middle East, South America, the Caribbean and Taiwan.
After his retirement he helped with local history books for the Emporia Chamber of Commerce and Emporia State University. He also wrote a book entitles “Emporia’s Ascent” about the town’s growth in the last half of the 20th Century.
His journalism career started in the 1950s when he taught in county schools of Chautauqua County and was a part-time correspondent in Sedan for the Coffeyville Daily Journal. After he finished active duty in Alaska, Ray came to Emporia to attend college on the G.I. Bill and worked part-time at The Gazette. He later changed careers to become a full-time Gazette employee, first as a photographer, then as a reporter and editor. He retired in 1996 with the title of Executive Editor. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Everett Ray Call, please visit our flower store.
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