Edsel Ray Lafferty

Edsel Ray Lafferty was born January 14, 1945, to Margaret and Dewey (Dagwood) Lafferty in Kopperston, West Virginia.   His parents had relocated to Wyoming County from Pike County, Kentucky to work in the coal mines at Kopperston. 

He was a 1962 graduate of Oceana High School, and a 1966 graduate of Pikeville College in Pikeville, Kentucky, with a major and teaching degree in Biology.   As time went on, he earned TWO Master Degrees.   In the early seventies, he completed a Master of Science in Biology from Marshall University, and in the eighties, a Master of Education from College of Graduate Studies, West Virginia University.

He spent a total of 50 years in the Wyoming County School System as teacher, assistant principal, and principal of several Wyoming County Schools.  He taught night classes for 35 years at Southern West Virginia Community College, while teaching in Wyoming County public schools.

It was during college that he met his lovely wife, Loretta.  They were married August 13, 1966, and shared many joyful adventures together for almost 59 years.  Their marriage was characterized by devotion to one another and a sweet love that continued to increase over time.  Edsel and Loretta built their family upon a core foundation of a shared faith in God and devotion to family.  It was with those principles that they raised two boys, Bobby Ray and Benjamin Randolf Lafferty and together saw many blessings beyond measure even through the precious final days.

Edsel Ray was an avid Biologist and Botanist.  He loved plants of all kinds, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants.  It seemed he could make anything grow.  He followed dreams such as building a house of stone heated by the sun on his mountain top farm.  He enjoyed spending time in Florida, his winter home, on the beach and collecting sea shells.  He loved going for walks, going to church and serving his God.  He loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart.  His greatest accomplishment on this earth, though, was his family   He loved and cherished his two boys, who are both medical doctors, (one an MD, and one a DO) and his grandchildren.  He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened, and his words made an impact on the people he knew and loved.

Edsel Ray served as a Conservation Supervisor for the Southern District for 20 years and was a member of the Oceana High School Hall of Fame.

Edsel Ray is preceded in death by his parents Margaret and Dewey Lafferty, aunts and uncles and cousins, and friends.  He is survived by his wife, Loretta, and sons: Bobby and wife, Emma, and Benjamin and wife, Dee; grandchildren: Bradley Ashton, Samuel Benjamin, Elijah Paul, and Grace Marie Lafferty, Olivia Grace Belding and Byron Dean Drenning.

Papa Ray, as he was known, will be truly missed.  He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend.

The Family would like to thank the kind and expert staff of Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Center Well Home Health, Wyoming Health and Rehab center at New Richmond, as well as Josh Bishop at Family Health Care Associates Inc. for providing excellent care during Mr. Lafferty’s time of need.  Your caring hearts will always be remembered and appreciated.

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