I got this from Larry Howell. The picture won't make it, but the words will
get his point across...
Subject: Ray Goree
Dear Mark,
The photo of Ray Goree attached here is one I took in the little cafe at the
2007 Gathering there at the airport. That was the first time I had met Ray. We
spent some time together, getting to know one another a little bit, since he
was from a town about 30 miles east of me. He was extremely excited about the
KR aircraft, actually he had a ton of enthusiasm, I began to think that maybe I
didn't have enough enthusiasm towards my KR. AT this years Gathering I spent
more time with him, we had fun kidding each other about anything. After the
Gathering we began a long series of emails about planes, politics and whatever.
The last email I received from him was January 23, 2009. I emailed him a few
more times with no response, so I began to sense that something was wrong but
continued to wait and see. I thought maybe he and his wife had taken a trip or
something hopefully. When I saw the post I was heartbroken for him and his
family, as you may remember he had brought his brother with him to the last
Gathering in 2008. He sure was energetic showing his brother all the KRs and
what his might be like in flying condition. He sent me a photo of himself
sitting in his plane last fall, I spent all day long yesterday looking through
file after file for that photograph. I have been upset about not finding it but
I am continuing today looking as well. I have some photos of him from 2008
Gathering but have not found my 08 Gathering photos either, but I will. (I have
done a lot of file moving in the past month, so I am disorganized)
I talked to Rays brother this evening, he told me that Ray was feeling kinda
bad so he went to the doctor on Friday around the 30th of January. During a
scan a tumor was found on his pancreas. He didn't last long, less than 3 weeks
from when he first felt bad, to his first doctor appointment, to Feb 13th.
All of the emails below were some that Ray had sent to me in response to mine.
We were talking about the next Gathering in 2009, maybe camping out etc. I
believe he felt his plane would be ready to fly there to the Gathering this
year, he was getting extra excited about it.
He wanted to come down to the campfire the night we burned Georgia (the KR
fuselage) but he felt obligated to stay with his brother and nephew and get
them back to the hotel.
I thought I would let you know what I know, I will continue to look for that
photo of him sitting in his plane, it would be a great one to post somewhere.
You can post this email if you want so others can get a feel for Ray and a
little of what he was like. He did send me a photo of myself that he had taken
this year. I am not photogenic at all so I emailed him back and said who is
that, he looks retarded, he then emailed me back and said, Larry you need to be
more kind to yourself" Ray
Thanks,
Larry Howell
--------------
Larry,
I do not know how I lost your last E-mail, but I cannot find it. I built
the KR2S and made it 4 in.
wider than plans. I also made formers for my canopy so I could make it taller.
My canopy is made
of plexiglass that I formed. It opens on the pilot side only. The windshield
and side windows are
clear. The top is grey. I also have a 3" wide console down the center.
Ray
Larry,
I was just looking at the pictures that Mark Jones put on the net. Some
were of the
campers at the lake. It kinda made me "homesick." It has been several month
since my son
and I went camping. And we "cheated'. We were at the Mineral Wells State Park
and
stayed in a shelter. We have camped, tents that is , there and around the
state, and sometimes
with his sister. Maybe next year.
Have a good week.
Ray
Larry,
I had not intended to wait this long to E-mail you. It was good to get
together with you and Joe and the others. I hope we don't wait until Gathering
time, 2009 to get together again. I did want you to know that I really
appreciate your inviting me to go to the campgrounds. I was a little tired, but
since my brother is not into camping, I chose to to spend time with him. I saw
the picture of the big campfire and it looked inviting. Were you burning the
remains of the test boat section?
I will definitely consider camping out next year. If my KR2S will carry
both
of us, we will fly, if you trust me that much. If we drive, there is Joe and
John
Sanders of Canyon Lake. There is also a guy who lives at Sherman, that was
looking for a ride this year.
I trust things will go well with you and yours,
Ray
Larry,
Good to hear from you. You should see the hanger I have. Not exactly
the neatest. I just rent space from a friend who no longer has a plane.It is a
very good for me. And I have a partner who has a Taylorcraft, which has
just been bought off for an annual after more than a year idle. He has health
problems. He is also a partner on my KR2S.
If we should have our planes ready in time for the 2009 Gathering, We can
fly up together and ship the equipment. On second thought, with 2 planes, maybe
we could fly the equipment.Tell me about your Corvair engine. I would like to
have one in my plane.
I did not see the man from Sherman. I forgot to take his name and look
him
up.
Are you flying anything these days? I have not flown since 1991, I think.
Let's do it---get flying, I mean.
Ray
