Funeral services for Earl Ray Richey, age 96, of Brownwood, will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 18, 2015 in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
Ray passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 in Brownwood.
Ray Richey was born in Comanche County, October 16, 1918. The son of William Madison and Martha Holden Richey, he was the youngest of six boys and also had three sisters. He was the last surviving member of that large family. A short time after Ray was born the Richeys returned to the family farm south of the community of Champion in Nolan County. Ray attended school in nearby Roscoe and spent his formative years in that area.
Ray married his sweetheart Flossie Finley on September 17, 1938 in Snyder, Texas. They were married over 74 years when Flossie passed away in early 2013. They started their life together on a farm near Champion. In 1942 they sold out and moved to Big Spring where Ray began a career with Cosden Oil and Chemical. When World War II broke out, Ray enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as an aerial gunnery instructor on several air bases across the country. When the War was won, Ray and Flossie returned to Big Spring and continued building his career at Cosden.On January 21, 1948 Ray and Flossie welcomed their only son Phillip Ray Richey to the world. They lived a good life in Big Spring for many years and moved to the country where there was room for horses and cattle, always a true love of Ray’s. As a father, he was active in the Boy Scouts and the 4-H Club in Howard County; donating countless hours to his son and other children.
In 1962 Ray purchased land in southwestern Missouri and over the years developed it into a nice ranch. In 1972 Ray and Flossie retired there and stayed 10 years before selling out and returning to Texas to be closer to family. You wouldn`t be around Ray long without hearing of his love for the Missouri ranch. They moved to Stephenville, Texas for a few years and then on to Brownwood in 1985 making this their home until their deaths.
Ray was an excellent husband, father and a fine Christian man. He was blessed to be a granddad and great granddad, and was very involved in his grandchildren’s lives. He served as a surrogate granddad to many. A strong family man, he kept close ties with his brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews through the years. Ray was an active member of the Austin Avenue Church of Christ until his death. He served on the board of directors for Cherokee Home for Children. Throughout his life he always made time for kids and older folks.
He is survived by his son Phillip and wife Judy of Brownwood, granddaughters Phyllis Havens and husband Zach of Stephenville, Mary Lynn King and husband Justin of Brock, great grandchildren Dillon Cox of College Station, Parker and Addison Havens of Stephenville and Cameron King of May. He has one surviving sister-in-law, Sandy Langhor of San Angelo and a host of loving nieces and nephews.
The family requests that memorials to Ray be given to the Cherokee Home for Children, PO Box 295, Cherokee, 76832.
Condolences can be offered to the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net.
