Leon Ray Belden, 61, was peacefully lifted to the Lord on Sunday, January 12, 2003, after a courageous eleven-year battle with cancer. He was born on September 10, 1941, in Monterey, California. He married Mary Jane Link on January 24, 1964 in Bayard, Nebraska. Ray received his B.S. Degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1973 and was a member of their Alumni Association. He had 28 years of experience in designing and supervising drilling, completion, and the production of directional wells in New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Indiana. He was a Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and had many related technical and management courses including certification by the Mineral Management Service (MMS) in BOP Pressure Control. He set many records with his experience in Horizontal Drilling and completions with both land rigs and offshore rigs. He retired in 2001, as a Petroleum Engineer Consultant with Chesapeake Energy. Former places of employment include: Swift, Crown, Midcon Central (formerly Harper Oil Co.), MGF Oil Corporation, Freeport Oil, Belco Petroleum Corp., and Hunt Oil Company. Ray Belden served in the United States Marine Corp from 1958 to 1963. He was a member of the American Legion. Much joy was brought into his life by his family, beloved friends, and the hobbies he enjoyed sharing such as radio controlled planes, golf, fishing, bingo, and bowling.Survivors include his wife; Mary Jane Belden of Midland, two daughters; Debbie Seawright of Midland, and Jackie Belden of Ft. Worth, Texas, son-in-law; Randy Seawright of Midland, his mother; Leona Belden Batt of Bayard, Nebraska, sister; Jackie Blair Dalbey of Bayard, Nebraska, brothers & sisters-in-law; Earl and Demah Belden of Wright, Wyoming, Joe and Betty Belden of Kimball, Nebraska, sister & brother-in-law; Joy & Marty Kuehler of Wichita, Kansas, three grandsons; Cory , Casey, and Chandler Seawright all of Midland. Also living in Midland, one nephew and his wife; Robert and Cristi Blair and family. He is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, one great great nephew, and two great great nieces.He was preceded in death by his grandparents; John and Lovina Belden, and Inman and Rose Triplett, his father; John H. Belden, two brothers; John H. Belden Jr. and Gayle Inman Belden, two brothers-in-law; Roy,
