William Ray Bennett

William Ray Bennett, age 82, of Brookfield, passed away, Sunday, November 18, 2018, at his home.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Brookfield with Pastor Tom Sullenger officiating.  Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookfield.  Visitation will begin Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. An Elk’s Session of Sorrow will be held at the beginning of the funeral service.   

Memorials to Saving Every Victim (S.E.V.), Trinity United Methodist Church, or Brookfield Elks Lodge Veteran’s Transport Project may be left at or mailed to Wright Funeral Home, P.O. Box 496, Brookfield, MO 64628.

Ray, son of Frank and Lucile (Watson) Bennett, was born August 26, 1936, in Osborn, Missouri.  On January 15, 1961, he married Carole Songer.

After graduating from Cameron High School, he studied agronomy at the University of Missouri Columbia where he graduated in 1958.   While attending the university, Ray was an active member of Farmhouse Fraternity and participated in the ROTC program.

After college, Ray served in the United States Army National Guard until 1964, then worked for American Agricultural Chemical Company and then for Chevron.  In 1967, he moved his family to Brookfield where he was the co-owner/operator then owner of Ag-Land Inc.  Ray sold Ag-Land after 33 years and retired soon after.  After retiring, he kept busy with woodworking, tending to his garden, playing cards, and finding all types of projects to work on around the house and with his numerous friends.  He often said he was busier after he retired then when he was working.

Ray served on various boards in the community including:  Brookfield R-3 school board of education where he served as President, Linn County Health Department, Linn County Extension Department, Citizens Bank and Trust, North Central Missouri YMCA, Brookfield Country Club and was a founding board member of MO-AG Industries.  Ray was also a proud member of the Brookfield Elks Lodge for over 50 years and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Brookfield.

Survivors include his wife, Carole of the home; two daughters, Kerry Estes and husband, Steve of Kansas City and Susan Jones and husband, Nolan (Chip) of Columbia; one son, Tom Bennett and wife, Natalie of Brookfield; seven grandchildren, Trent and Rylie Estes of Kansas City, Madelyn and Blake Jones of Columbia, and Andrew, Maggie and Alex Bennett of Brookfield; one sister, Carolyn Scott of Cameron; one brother, Lee Bennett and wife, Sandy of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his toddler son, Steven Bennett; his parents, Frank and Lucile Bennett; and one brother, Ross Bennett. 

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