James Ray Schad, of Purdy, was recently set apart as an elder and senior service missionary for the Arkansas Bentonville Mission, VROC Grand Canyon Virtual Operations Center, where he will be helping people across the country with their family trees by indexing old historical records.

Schad is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and a 2015 graduate of Purdy High School.

He is the first one in his line in 104 years to go on a mission. His great, great, great uncle, Austin Owens, was a missionary for the Church in the eastern states, especially in New York.

“The two things that are really helping me on my mission are the love and support from my family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ,’ he said.

Schad is the son of Cheryl Lynn Morris and the late David Maywald and adopted son of George Schad.