Rex D. Spray

Mount Vernon - A funeral service for Rex D. Spray, 81 of Mount Vernon, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at Owl Creek Baptist Church, 4044 Owl Creek Church Rd. with Pastor Sharon VanWinkle officiating. Burial will follow in Owl Creek Cemetery.

Rex died December 22, 2011 at Country Court Nursing Center, Mount Vernon. He was born September 3, 1930, in Troy, WV to the late Herbert C. and Sophia A. (Bode) Spray.

He was a member of Owl Creek Baptist Church and served as treasurer for 29 years. Rex was a U.S. Army veteran and a life long farmer. The Spray Brothers Farm was the first certified organic farm in the State of Ohio. Rex was known as "The Legend" of Organic Farming. He was a member of the National Farmers Organization, O.E.F.F.A., a 60 year member of Morgan Grange and supervisor for 6 years with the Knox Soil and Water Conservation District.

He is survived by wife of 51 years, Evelyn A. (Bruce) Spray, sons, Rodney Allen Spray and Steven Daniel Spray all of Mount Vernon; daughter and son-in-law, Anne Marie and Troy Arnott of Newark; three step grandchildren, Olivia, Lane and Lucie Arnott; brother and sister-in-law, Glenn and Elsie Spray of Mount Vernon; sister-in-law, Eloise Spray of McConnelsville.

He is preceded in death by his brothers, Howard, Mark and Nelson Spray; sisters, Mabel Spray, Doris Belt, Ruth Kohl, Frances Varner and Lucy Strubler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Owl Creek Baptist Church, 4044 Owl Creek Church Rd., Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

Friends may call 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, December 26 at Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., Utica.

Visit www.law-bakerfuneralhome.com to extend condolences to the family.