Obituary for Denzil Ray
Funeral services for Denzil Ray, 80, will be held Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with Terry Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 2-4 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home.
He passed away October 12, 2023 in Childress.
He was born January 14, 1943 in Loco, Texas to Nathaniel Ray and Ethel Pearl Jones Ray.
After school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was stationed at Fort Bliss, Fort Sill, Fort Benning and Germany. When he was discharged, he bought a Dr. Pepper truck and moved to Childress. After a few years, he began working for American National Insurance and was still selling policies until his illness made him unable. He served as a Childress County Commissioner for 10 years and was Certified by the American Quarter Horse Association as a cutting horse breeder for 30 years. He would help anyone who needed it. Once you were his friend, you were always his friend. Working was his hobby and he loved every minute. Above all, he was a fantastic husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Norman Ray; a sister, Dorothy Hodges; a brother W.L. Ray and a bonus son, Jerry Foley.
Survivors include his wife, Chris Ray; two sons, Denny Ray and John Ray and wife, Ashilen; a daughter, Angie Petit and husband, Ray; a bonus daughter, Angie Prater and husband, Kelly; a bonus son, Kevin Foley and wife, Mandy; daughter-in-love, Tammy Foley; grandchildren, Brooke Ramsey, Kelsey Ramsey, Tripp Ray, Jeremy Foley and wife, Jennifer, Tiffany Foley, Jason Foley and wife, Dorothy, Keith Foley and wife, Abby, Blake Foley, Beth Foley, Josh Prater and wife, Sara and Austin Prater; 24 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
The family suggests memorials to Childress We Can Care.
He passed away October 12, 2023 in Childress.
He was born January 14, 1943 in Loco, Texas to Nathaniel Ray and Ethel Pearl Jones Ray.
After school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was stationed at Fort Bliss, Fort Sill, Fort Benning and Germany. When he was discharged, he bought a Dr. Pepper truck and moved to Childress. After a few years, he began working for American National Insurance and was still selling policies until his illness made him unable. He served as a Childress County Commissioner for 10 years and was Certified by the American Quarter Horse Association as a cutting horse breeder for 30 years. He would help anyone who needed it. Once you were his friend, you were always his friend. Working was his hobby and he loved every minute. Above all, he was a fantastic husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Norman Ray; a sister, Dorothy Hodges; a brother W.L. Ray and a bonus son, Jerry Foley.
Survivors include his wife, Chris Ray; two sons, Denny Ray and John Ray and wife, Ashilen; a daughter, Angie Petit and husband, Ray; a bonus daughter, Angie Prater and husband, Kelly; a bonus son, Kevin Foley and wife, Mandy; daughter-in-love, Tammy Foley; grandchildren, Brooke Ramsey, Kelsey Ramsey, Tripp Ray, Jeremy Foley and wife, Jennifer, Tiffany Foley, Jason Foley and wife, Dorothy, Keith Foley and wife, Abby, Blake Foley, Beth Foley, Josh Prater and wife, Sara and Austin Prater; 24 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
The family suggests memorials to Childress We Can Care.