HAROLD “HAL” RAYMOND FRAY JR. died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009,

at home with his wife of 35 years, Martha Belle Fray, and family around him.

Hal was born in Waterbury, Conn. Feb. 8, 1925 and grew up in Milford, Conn. After high school, he enlisted in the 188th Combat Army Engineers attached to General Patton’s 3rd Army Division in Europe. He entered Buchenwald Concentration Camp two days after the American forces liberation. His grandson Derek Fanucci wrote “My grandfather never wanted to forget. It was a lesson of how hate and prejudice can turn human beings into inhuman actors.”

In 1946, Hal entered Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. under the G.I. Bill of Rights. Before graduation, he married Harriet Ann Steinmetz and had their first child. After graduation he entered Union Seminary in New York, N.Y. and studied under Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich.

At 29, he graduated with a Master of Divinity and accepted a call at Plymouth Congregational Church, Utica, N.Y. From there he served as Senior Minister at Eliot Congregational UCC in Newton, Mass. and Fauntleroy Community Church UCC, Seattle, Wash.

When Hal was in Newton, he was involved in the civil rights movement and went to Greenwood, Miss. in 1964 to help African Americans gain the right to vote. He represented the United Church of Christ at the United Nations in New York City, and participated in the protests against the Viet Nam War with other Boston churches.

Harold and Harriet were married 25 years when she died of cancer. He married Martha Belle Wheeler Grey. They blended eight children: Susan Fray Decker of Ashland, Maine; John R. Fray, David T. Fray, and Cathy Fray Ollman of Seattle; Helen Fray Fanucci of Mercer Island; Paul H. Fray of Buckley, Wash. with Stuart W. Grey of Casper, Wyo. and Sherilyn Sunflower of Corvallis, Ore. They now have 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

After retiring in 1985, Hal started Adventure Tours, taking seniors on trips throughout the U.S. and 43 foreign countries. He served as interim minister in Casper and Brookline, Mass.

After he and Martha Belle moved to Green Valley from Seattle, he accepted the position as New Member Development Minister at the Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita. He was active with the Friends of Madera Canyon, the Tattersallers Discussion Group, Good Shepherd’s Men’s Breakfast and Kiva Groups. Hal promoted Just Coffee, a Chiapas, Mexico farmers’ co-op in the churches and organizations in Green Valley. He was involved with Borderlinks, Human Borders, and other humanitarian groups. He taught a class through the U of A’s Green Valley “OLLI” program. He wrote and published his book SEX UNDER THE STEEPLE: A Biblical and Historical Review. Favorite hobbies of Harold’s were birdwatching and travelling.

Harold’s Memorial service was at Good Shepherd on Feb 16th. The family suggests that remembrances be sent to The Good Shepherd U.C.C., 17750 S. La Canada, Sahuarita, AZ 85629.