Raymond Ray Raney, AKA The Triple Threat “Ray”, 71, passed away Sunday, January 10, 2021.
Ray was born in Osceola, Arkansas, August 3, 1949, son to the late Chester Raney and Ruth Campbell Raney.
Ray loved the river, first and foremost, fishing and farming. He was always working on something, from chainsaws to lawn mowers.
His favorite thing to do was to sit in his living room with Lil’ Jason, getting warm by the wood stove. Those two were thick as thieves.
Can’t forget those times sitting with Shad at the table, just shootin’ the “mess.”
And Lord knows there were those complicated times with Mike, Paul, Roy and Jason, but they were all his sons-in-law.
They had a place in his big ole heart. Last, but not least, Marie. She might have been his ex-wife, but he always made the joke they would get remarried.
Her response every single time was “I don’t think so.”
In the words of Ray-Ray, “You lie, your feet stink and you don’t love Jesus.”
He was an old man stuck in his ways but was always looking to try new things.
Even here close to the end he was thinking about retiring his old trusty flip phone for one of those “fancy touch screens' 'smartphones.
He was a storyteller and a memory maker. He was someone we all had a first memory with.
Fly High Daddy, Granddaddy, Grandpappy, Ray.
We know you are sitting up there with Dixie in your lap, Topper on your shoulder drinking a beer, smoking a cigarette with Sterl, Snook and Gabby, laughing at all of us being so upset.
Surviving are his Ex-wife, Marie Raney; dauguters, Lisa Holcomb and husband, Paul Holcomb, Jr., Janett Gilliam and husband, Roy Gilliam, and Angela Raney and partner, Jason Ivory; grandchildren, Michael Ray, Jenna Blair and husband, Shadrick Carter, Charity Jade, Hannah Denise, Jacob Chase, Layla Jean and Great Grandchild Elena Grace. Also surviving are his sisters, Nancy Lenoir, Sherry Raney, Terri Sheffer, and Peggy Sue and his brothers, Larry Raney, Ronnie Raney, Lynn Raney, Steve Sheffer and Jeff Babcock.
The family will have a service to remember Ray’s life at a later date.
Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com