Elton Bray

Elton Bray, 86, of Bancroft, NE died on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at his home in Bancroft. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Bancroft; Pastor Charity Potter will be officiating. The visitation will be Friday, January 20, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft, NE. Burial with military rites by the Bancroft Legion Post 191 will be at the Bancroft Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Bancroft or the Bancroft Senior Center. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft. Elton was born November 1, 1930 in Bancroft, NE the son of Ernest and Etta (Bassett) Bray. He attended and graduated from Bancroft High School. Elton then entered the United States Navy during the Korean War, where he served on board the destroyer the U.S.S. McKean, which was involved in plane guard detail for air craft carriers off the coast of Korea.  He was united in marriage to Jean Marie Peterson on December 8, 1951 in West Point, NE.  To this union three children were born; Randy, Nathan and Gail. Elton was baptized on June 30, 1957 at First Presbyterian Church in Bancroft, NE. He worked as a rural mail carrier, received his 50-year membership pin in the Rural Letter Carrier’s Association and accumulated over 1 million miles on the route. He also enjoyed welding and worked for Wenke Manufacturing in Pender.  Elton was a member of the Bancroft VFW, the American Legion Post 191, the Bancroft Cemetery Board and 50-year member of the Masons. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Bancroft, serving as a church Elder for seven terms. Elton also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing pool, traveling and square dancing. His hobbies included fixing, tinkering, and building things. Elton is survived by his sons, Randy (Diana) Bray of Grandview, MO and Nathan (Lori) Bray of Pender; daughter, Gail (Mark) McCorkindale of Wayne; sisters, Anita (Marvin) Freel of Monterey, CA, Judy and (Dave) Lanfgield of Lakewood, CO; brother, Vernon (Betty) Bray of Denver, CO; nine grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and special friend, Edna Battiato of Fremont. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean; sisters, Justyne Elliot and Myrna Marr; and brother, Steven Bray.