Hal Adrian LaPray Sr.

Hal Adrian LaPray, Sr, lovingly called “PopPop”, died on July 31, 2025. Hal was born in Hayward, California, the eldest child of Clyde and Bertha LaPray. He grew up on D Street in Hayward where he enjoyed playing sports with his siblings, outings to Casper’s for hot dogs, and eating his mom’s buttermints. He graduated from Hayward High in 1957.  While working at Galloncamps shoe store after high school, his boss told Hal he would  be fired if he didn’t go to college.  He went on to attend Brigham Young University before and after his mission, where he was a yell leader. 

Although he grew up in the Bay Area, in 1961 his church mission brought him to Texas where his behind-the-back catches on the softball field caught the eye of Sybil Portie. Hal and Sybil would continue to exchange letters for the remainder of his mission. Those must have been some good letters, because Hal and Sybil were eventually married in the Oakland California Temple on July 21, 1965. After his mission, Hal returned to Brigham Young University to complete his degree in education. He later received a masters in Kinesiology at Lamar University. He became the director of the Beaumont YMCA but eventually left education and health altogether to pursue a career in industrial sales at Triplex Inc. Despite leaving the Y, his love for sports never dimmed. He was an avid runner including multiple marathons and never missed a chance to play any sport with a ball. He rarely missed a sporting event for any of his children or grandchildren (except for a few occasions when the referee’s invited him to leave early). Even after being confined to a wheelchair he managed to get a header in a girls varsity soccer game. 

Hal LaPray had a servant’s heart and dedicated a lot of time serving in his church and in the community. He served the Vidor community on the Vidor ISD School Board for several terms in the 80s and 90s. More recently and up until his death, Hal served on the board of the Orange County Drainage District. In 2007, Hal and his wife Sybil accepted a call to serve an eighteen-month mission in South Africa, predominantly among the Xhoswa people. They quickly developed a love for the people and returned for another eighteen-month mission in 2010. Nothing gave him more joy than being with Big Mama and his children which is saying something considering who his children are. He was surrounded by loud laughter and even louder yet friendly banter even though, at times, family outsiders would be hard-pressed to see the “friendly”.  If it ever went too far, Hal would end the discussion with an equally loud, “can’t we all just get along”. 

Hal is survived by his six children; Hal LaPray, of Vidor, Texas, Heath LaPray, of Houston, Texas, Chad LaPray, of Vidor, Texas, Matthew and Deedra LaPray, of Vidor, Texas, Peter and Kelly LaPray, of Vidor, Texas, and Connie Beth Hart, of Lumberton, Texas. He is survived by his siblings, Barbara and Don Mason of Wellsville, Utah, Larry and Judy LaPray of Rockland, California, Steve and Maureen of Provo, Utah, and Terry and Lisa of North Richland Hills, Texas. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. 

Hal is predeceased by his wife, Sybil Portie LaPray, his parents, Clyde and Bertha LaPray, and his grandson, Luke Chandler LaPray. 

The Visitation Services for Mr. LaPray will be on Saturday, August 2, 2025.  The funeral services will be Monday, August 4th at 10:00 A.M. Both services will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 6198 FM 105 Vidor, TX 77662.

Mr. LaPray's funeral service will be livestreamed, to tune in please click here.

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