Charlie Ray Hudgins

On August 13, 2024, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend took his last breath on this earth. Charlie Ray Hudgins was born to Hill and Stella Hudgins on October 17, 1933, in his home near Haworth, Oklahoma.

At the age of seventeen, he started working in the Texas oilfields. While home for a funeral, and still in the cemetery, he asked the love of his life, Martha Jane Fuller, to be his bride. They were married on December 24, 1951 in a double ceremony. After moving to Dumas, Texas, they welcomed their two daughters Gwen and Patti.

Once back home in Pleasant Hill, Charley Ray accepted the position as Sheriff of McCurtain County. He was elected to two more terms and served from 1967 to 1973. During his time as sheriff, and on Patti’s thirteenth birthday, he brought home their son, Alan.

Charlie Ray, Martha Jane, and his sister Normie travelled around the community and other areas performing as what many knew as the Hudgins Trio. This is how he became known as the Singing Sheriff.

Charlie Ray owned cattle from the age of fifteen until he retired at the young age of 88. He loved working his cattle, and in true Charlie Ray fashion, he enjoyed helping others with their cattle as well.

He helped the community by serving on the Pleasant Hill and Haworth school boards for a number of years and was a deacon at Haworth Assembly for fifty years where they gave him the title of honorary deacon.

He enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to drive, ride horses, and pray.

Charlie Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Hill and Stella Hudgins; siblings, Faye Callaway, Buddy Hudgins, and Joyce Slabaugh.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Martha Jane Hudgins of the home; daughter and son in law, Gwen and Greg Campbell; daughter and son in law, Patti and Lance Jeanes of Idabel Ok; son Alan Hudgins of Haworth, OK; sisters, Normie Ebert of Haworth, Ruthell Jennings and husband Kirby of Van, Tx, Phyllis Robinson of Houston, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Curtis and Chloe Fuller; sister-in-law, Louise Fuller; grandchildren, Jayson Atterberry of Idabel, Matthew Stone and wife Tamra of Idabel, Lynci and husband DJ David of Idabel; great grandchildren, Christina Smith, Kasyn Stone, Mykah Stone, Mattisyn Stone, Ethan Stone, and Wyndle Ray David; great-great grandchildren Lucas Smith and Preston Smith. He also had a numerous amount of family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at the Haworth Assembly Church in Haworth, OK with Pastor Gary Davidson officiating. Interment will follow at the Tom Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, August 18, 2024 at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.whitefamilyfh.com.

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