Obituary of Ray Hall

Ray Hall, 70, of 67 City View Ave. passed away at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2011, in UPMC Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA. An area resident for most of his life he was born January 22, 1941 in Yellow Hammer, Cherokee County, OK a son of the late Wayne and Troney Lafarlette Hall. He was a graduate of Jamestown Community College, attended Fredonia State University and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He had been employed by the former Jamestown Telephone Company where he met his wife Joan and was past president of the telephone workers union. Ray had worked for the Norvell Reed Farm, where he bought, sold and auctioned cattle. He was also employed by Chautauqua County for several years and was the Clerk of the Chautauqua County Legislature under former County Executive Joseph Gerace from 1980 - 1983. In earlier years he and his wife owned and operated several businesses in the Jamestown area including the Western Tack Shop and in later years Choice Communications. During his retirement years he hosted a talk radio show on WJTN called "The Hall Closet" and also was currently writing a blog for the Post Journal. Ray was known as a fierce champion for the working class, an advocate for the underdog and crusader for the disenfranchised. Ray was a member of the Vikings Lodge, the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, the Moose Lodge, the Lakewood Memorial Post 1286 American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had a lifelong passion for politics and was very active with the Democratic Party serving as Chairman of the Jamestown Democratic Party for several years. He also was an avid reader and writer, and enjoyed nature and bird watching. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family by whom he will be deeply missed. Ray will finally be reunited with the love of his life, Joan whom he missed tremendously and was married to for 42 years. Surviving are a son Tage (Erica) Hall, a daughter Tara Hall, two grandsons August "Gus" Viele, Gage Viele, a sister Lavon (Paul) Landry, and a cousin Karen Johnson all of Jamestown. He was preceded in death by his wife the former Joan Erickson Hall whom he married November 29, 1969, in Bethel Lutheran Church, and who died January 6, 2011, two sisters Edith Hall, Edythe Hall Teach and an infant brother Waymon Hall. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. Mr. James Walton will officiate. Friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. today in the funeral home Memorials may be made to the Jamestown Audubon Society, 1600 Riverside Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701.