Dr. John Raymond "Ray" Trammell was born March 14, 1931, in Hollis, Oklahoma, the son of Willie Leon and Gladys Elvira (Rippetoe) Trammell. He passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the age of 94.

Ray was raised in Hollis on a cotton farm during the Dust Bowl and was proud of his Southwestern Oklahoma roots. He played many sports during his school years and also worked on the farm. After graduating from Hollis High School, Ray enrolled at Oklahoma A&M for a year. He then enlisted in the US Army and was a soldier in the 120 the Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Division, from 1950-1952 during the Korean War. Recognized for his selfless actions and integrity, he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. During his time in active duty, Ray fought valiantly side by side with people of all kinds. His experiences in these early years helped to form a lifelong core value for him that he also instilled in his children. Dr. Trammell's often repeated life lesson: Be kind to all as we all bleed the same color of red. Master Sergeant Trammell was honorably released from active duty on June 16, 1952, for return into the Oklahoma National Guard.

Immediately after the war, Ray worked for various grocery stores in the panhandle of Texas as a butcher funding his undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma. He excelled in chemistry and was studying to be a pharmacist when he decided to go to medical school. With his typical grit and determination, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma Medical

School in 1959. He received his training in general surgery and family practice.

In the following years, he built one of the largest family practices in Oklahoma City and was beloved by all of his patients. Dr. Trammell delivered thousands of babies, performed thousands of surgeries, and treated every patient as if each patient was his own child or parent. For those who could not pay, he would happily accept a barter. With Dr. Trammell, every patient was treated with dignity and respect regardless of rank, color, or station. In later years, when running into patients, he may have not remembered their names; but he would often remember their delivery date or specific medical circumstances. Dr. Trammell possessed a kind and healing touch as he knew the pain of losing a loved one having lost his own son, Alan, who died at the

age of four (4). His bedside manner was such that his patients would feel better as soon as he entered the examination room.

He practiced medicine from 1959 to 2003 at Integris Baptist, Mercy Hospital and served multiple times as Chief of Staff, Chief of Surgery and Chief of Medical Practice at Deaconess Hospital. Additionally, he was a Fellow American of the Academy of Family Practice, a member of the American Medical Association, the Oklahoma State Medical Association and

the Oklahoma County Medical Society. Upon retirement from private practice, he missed the practice of medicine and joined the State of Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Community Corrections, as a staff physician from 2004-2014, wherein he retired again.

Ray's skills extended far beyond the medical field. He was also exceptionally competent and capable when it came to fixing things, especially on his farms. His first farm was in Wellston, OK and then Deer Creek became his home. In 2005, he found a willing and vibrant life partner in Teresa Garrett. For the next 20 years they built a life together filled with love, family and

laughter on the farm. His favorite days were spent tinkering in the barn, riding the tractor, and working the cattle while listening to Don Williams. He was also passionate about his garden. Ray spent countless hours tending to his vegetables and gleefully shared his bounty with friends and family. He also shared his garden produce with a local food pantry in Oklahoma City.

Ray was tough as nails and the hardest working man his friends and family knew. Yet, he possessed the most tender of hearts. His love and compassion for animals was present throughout his life and played a key role in his relationship with his family. In early years, Ray spent countless weekends traveling to horse shows with his children, leading them to achieving

world championship titles. In later years, he derived great pleasure from his integral role in the formation and ongoing operations of the non-profit organization, Nexus Animals. He found great joy in working alongside his daughters in the daily care of the rescue animals housed on his property. Some of his last words included the immense pride he felt in his accomplishment of raising his children into the people they are today.

In later years, his body aged, but his mind was ever so sharp. He derived great pleasure from reading his medical journals up until his last months. In typical doctor fashion, he correctly diagnosed his own ailments and played an active role in his own medical care. Even in the face of his challenges, his family continued to be inspired by his ongoing selflessness and grace. He

was truly a remarkable human who was deeply devoted to his family. His core values of kindness, loyalty, integrity, hard work and selflessness left a legacy with his family that will be carried on for generations.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Alan Trammell; and his sisters, Billie Thompson and Reta Poire.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa (Garrett) Trammell; his brother, Jerry Rippetoe and wife, Jackie; his son, Roger Trammell and wife Connie; his daughters, Rita Hoch and husband, William, Laura Dawson and husband Mike, and Anna Trammell Brady; his step-children, Ryan Welch and wife, Gabriella, and Emily Sims and husband Jacob; his grandchildren, Erin Broome and husband, Richard, Dakota Trammell and wife, Ashley, William Hoch IV and Madelon Dawson; his step-grandchildren, Chris Witherspoon, Dalton Dawson, Daxton Dawson, Jack Sims, Emmett Sims, Declan Sims and Ellis Welch; his great-grandchildren, Cayden Trammell and Zoey Broome and his niece, Cindy Poire and lastly his beloved Australian Shepherd Dog

"Willow."

The family is exceptionally appreciative of the excellent care Ray received in his final weeks by Lawrence V. Deck M.D., Valir Hospice and his private caregivers Helen Dawson and Maria Silva.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, May 27th at Vondel Smith Mortuary North, 13125 N. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City.

Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Friday, May 30th at Vondel Smith Mortuary North Chapel, 13125 N. MacArthur Blvd. Interment with military honors will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Garden Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Nexus Animals, PO Box 54572 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73154. Website - www.nexusanimals.org