Raymond A. "Ray" Drum

OZARK…Mr. Raymond A. “Ray” Drum (Sergeant First Class, United States Army, Retired), a resident of Ozark, died early Friday evening, June 23, 2023, at his home. He was 89.

            Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Ozark First Assembly of God Church with Pastor Brian Presley and Pastor Matt Sasser officiating. Graveside services, with full military honors, will follow in Westview Memorial Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Thursday at the church.

            Mr. Drum, son of the late John Drum and Ethel Hall Drum, was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a Vietnam War Veteran and was retired from the United States Army. Mr. Drum lived in various locations in the United States and overseas while serving in the military before moving to Ozark in 1975. He was also retired from Civil Service at Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel) as a supply clerk after twenty years. Following his retirement, he was also employed with Winn Dixie Grocery Store in Ozark. Mr. Drum was a member of the Ozark First Assembly of God Church. After his illness prevented him from attending church, he also became a media church member of the Family Worship Center of the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Mr. Drum never met a stranger, always enjoyed talking with people and enjoyed listening to Gospel music. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ervin Drum, Frank Drum, Harry Drum, Johnny Drum, Robert Drum, Walter Drum, Glenn Drum, Eddie Horwheth.

            Surviving relatives include his wife of sixty-five years, Sybil Bowers Drum; daughter, Anita Lynn Taylor (John), Ozark; two sons, Richard Drum, all of Ozark and Raymond Tick (Sharon), Wentzville, Missouri; sister, Margaret Dudko; grandson, Raymond Lester Taylor; sisters-in-law, Roxie Bowers, Barbara Bowers, and Bonnie Bowers; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

            Serving as pallbearers will be Israel Tores, Moses Fryer, Richard Drum, John Taylor, Jerry Strickland, and Mike Riley.

          “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
   2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV