Howard Ray, a long-time Collinsville coach, died on Sunday, February 16, 2025, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the age of 90.
Howard Ray was known for his exceptional athletic and coaching skills. In 2019, he was inducted into the inaugural Collinsville Athletic Hall of Fame class.
He coached the Collinsville softball, volleyball, and girls’ basketball teams for 30 years, from 1966 to 96.
Ray died Sunday at age 90. During his 37-year coaching career, he led Collinsville to championships in girls basketball, softball and volleyball. https://t.co/NDYBMfUu22
— OK Preps Extra (@okprepsextra) February 18, 2025
He won state titles in all three sports while coaching the Collinsville Cardinals.
Ray led the Cardinals to state titles in softball, volleyball, and girls’ basketball in 1972, 1984, and 1984, which were Collinville’s first state titles in all three sports.
Prior to Collinsville, Ray was the coach at Addington and Burbank, where he led the boys’ basketball team.
In his 37 years as a high school girls’ head basketball coach, he won 21 conference titles, appeared in 10 state tournaments, and was two state runner-ups in 1983 and ’85.
In addition to basketball, he demonstrated his excellent volleyball skills, achieving an overall career record of 354-121 with 13 state tournament appearances in 19 seasons. His softball record was 531-169 over 22 seasons.
Howard Ray was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2022.
In response to his demise, many of his loved ones are sending their heartfelt condolences to his family during his difficult situation and paying tribute to the legendary Collinsville coach.
Howard Ray Was Preceded In Death By His Wife, Barbara, And daughter Kristi Lee Fulton Cox!
Collinsville, Oklahoma native and coach Howard Ray reunites in heaven with his longtime wife, Barbara Kyker Ray, and their daughter, Kristi Lee Fulton.
While very little information about his wife, Barbara, is available, his daughter, Kristi Lee Fulton Cox, passed away on March 26, 2007, at the age of 45.
Kristi was born on May 26, 1961, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, as the first child of the late Howard and Barbara Ray.
She was a beloved member of the First Baptist Church of Collinsville and attended Amazing Grace Tabernacle.
Moreover, Kristi was proud of four children, Bradon, Chelsea, Cody, and Cheyenne Fulton, and a great wife to Russell Wayne Cox. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Kelly Fulton.
The late Howard Ray and his wife, Barbara, are survived by their youngest daughter, Karen Ray Page, and her husband, David Page.
Ray’s daughter Karen Page’s Facebook shows that she works at Jennings Public Schools and attended Collinsville High School.
Karen is happily married to David Page, a former head coach of the Oklahoma Basketball Team, who was inducted into the OCA Hall of Fame in 2021.
Likewise, David Page spent 39 years as a coach and 36 years as head coach and ranks fifth all-time among Oklahoma prep boys basketball coaches with 744 victories.
He coached at Blackwell (1980-90), Hominy (1990-98), Yale (1998-2004), and Pawnee and won state championships at Yale (1999, 2000) and Pawnee (2005, ’08-09-10) with two runner-up finishes.
According to reports, Howard Ray spent the past three years with his daughter Karen and son-in-law David Page.
In addition to his daughter and son-in-law, his grandchildren are left to cherish his life.
Ray’s grandsons, Keiton and Brady Page, sons of Karen and David Page, both followed in their late grandfather’s footsteps and are former basketball coaches.
Keiton Page was Oklahoma State’s assistant basketball coach for 17 years. He was a four-year starter and two-time All-Big 12 performer for the Cowboys from 2008-12.
On the other hand, Brady Page played at Pawnee High School like his brother and served as the head coach of Hennessey.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Howard Ray won the honorable title of girls’ basketball coach of the year in 1984 and was the National High School Girls Association’s volleyball coach of the year in 1982.
- He received the OGBCA’s Charles K. Heatly Award in 1988 and won the World’s Metro Girls Coach of the Year four times.
- Howard’s funeral service will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Collinsville, and the visitation will be held on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.
