August 26, 1942.

Mrs. H. W. Magee,
708 No. Jefferson,
ree Missouri.

Dear ie. Magee:

I am writing to you as Ray Parkins’ diate te oui Wiis
Aiden": mil ney Genuine Gil deep segred aver the penning of fey. Queer
as it may seem, neither Mrs. Allen nor I read the notice of Ray's death
or of the funeral in the Kansas City paper. I had heard indirectly from
some people in Chicago or Minneapolis of Ray’s untimely passing. iI wrote

th asking him about a high school boy in Minneapolis. I
ee ee ee ee Oe eee ee ee ee ee

this rumor I wrote to Louis Menze, tho was
OR ‘s College. Louie

3 ‘eit his wife attended the funeral
at Carrolton, but he did not mention the date. I would appreciate very
much if you would give me the address of s mother and her initials, to-
gether with Harry Parkins address in Kansas City. Harry attended the
Teacher's College a short while end I would like to write and express ny
eyapathion ani aleo explain why lire. Allen emi I were not at the funeral.

Ray was always one of my favorite boys - so heppy, intelligent
and jovial ~ a wonderful boy with wonderful possibilities. Some five years
ago I visited in his home in Minneapolis and we spent a happy day together.
TT had recommended Ray for two or three positions here recently and I remember
with a great deal of pleasure that I recommended him for his job at Duluth
under Superintendent R. A. Kent. I boosted him whenever possible because I
knew that he had all the necessary qualifications Gas pp © me @ 4 Fine
citisen and an excellent teacher.

iH
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ae
BER
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ce

a

a“

Mrs. Allen and I have talked of Ray so often. One Mews
daughter, Mary, who is now living at Palo Alto, California, was a little
tot in Warrensburg when Ray was in school. Ray would get up in the morning,
cook the oatmeal and get things ready before Mrs. Allen would come down-
stairs with her small brood. Ray was quite a cartoonist and artist and he
took an art magazine. On the front of that mgasine was a picture of Justice
ee a ee ee ee ee oe Mary

asked of her mother. Her mother said, "mn. tee you may not do that". Then
Mary seid to her mother, "You are just old Justice." Her mother said, “Mary,
what do you mean, old Justice?" And Mary said, “Because, Mother, you always
do just as you please.”

Ray got a big laugh out of this and we often joked about it.