Raymond DeWitt Townley

Raymond DeWitt Townley was born in Oakdale, Louisiana to parents DeWitt Franklin Townley and Oline Guillory on June 17, 1941.

Ray is survived by his loving and devoted wife Christine of Willis, TX, Son Steven Townley of Houston, TX; Daughter Melissa Brantley of Magnolia TX, Stepdaughter Alisha Silver and husband David of Richmond, TX; Stepdaughter Rebecca Williams of Richmond, TX; Niece Judith Townley of Bell City, LA; and Nephew Ronald (Bubba) Townley of Lake Charles Louisiana.

Grandchildren: Derek Jett and wife Delaina LeRoy of Austin, TX; Tristan Jett of Round Rock, TX; Step-Grandson John (Jack) Silver of Houston, TX; Step-Granddaughter Averie Garcia of Richmond, TX; Step-Granddaughter Alexandra Silver of Richmond, TX; and Step-Grandson Dryden Garcia of Richmond, TX

Great-Grandchildren: Jayden Silver of Houston, TX; Aaliyah Silver of Houston, TX; (While living with PawPaw Ray Jayden and Aaliyah came to Mass each Sunday and became devoted to Jesus); Leonessa (Lea) Garcia of Richmond, TX; and Everleigh Jett of Austin, TX.

Ray preceded in death by his father DeWitt Townley, his mother Oline Guillory, brother Ronnie Townley and wife Elizabeth Townley.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, at 10:30 at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1603 Ave. N Huntsville TX 77340 with Fr. Matthew Krusleski officiating.

Reception immediately following the service. Navy honors will be done at the reception.

Serving as pallbearers: Steven Townley, Derek Jett, Tristan Jett, Dryden Garcia, Mark Agnew, Reynaldo Reyes and honorary pallbearer Terry Sparks.

Ray was very proud to have served in the US Navy aboard the USS Coontz. He was a plank owner having been one of the first six people to set foot on the ship as it was being built in Bellevue, WA. He also participated in the ship’s commissioning ceremony.

The USS Coontz toured the Pacific theater just prior to the Vietnam War with only two ships of its class initially built-the USS Coontz for the Pacific theater and another ship for the Atlantic theater.

As Supply Master, Ray was responsible for properly stocking the ship at each port on the nine-month maiden voyage. An example of how Ray lived his life is during the entire voyage he never set foot off the Coontz because he felt committed to overseeing the restocking As a result he stayed on board the entire nine-month voyage. He was just out of high school and 17 to 18 during the deployment. As a result of never actually setting foot on foreign ground during an actual war,(the ship is considered US territory) he was denied veterans benefits. Ray often talked about how he would let guys working under his supervision take leave instead of taking it himself.

After he being honorably discharged, he was hired at Perry Bros retail store as a Store Manager of the Galveston location where he met his wife, Liz. He devoted his energy and love of people to making every store he managed the best in the chain. Recognizing his commitment and drive Perry's promoted him up the ranks to upper management. The company valued Ray enough they gave him paid time off to care for Liz while she battled pancreatic cancer. Upon her death in 1998, he arranged for them to be buried together in Klein Memorial Cemetery in Pinehurst, which is where he will be interred. Ray returned to Perry Bros to find they were closing stores and going into bankruptcy. They asked Ray to stay on until the last door closed, which he did, thus making him the final and last employee.

Ray was a “cradle” Catholic and devoted to his Lord his entire life, serving in Knights of Columbus, taking Eucharist to shut ins, and becoming a Vincentian to serve those less fortunate. He thoroughly enjoyed doing home visits to assess the need. Saint Vincent de Paul in Huntsville holds an annual fundraising Walk-A-Thon and Ray would walk 1 lap with Father Fred (on his walker!) to get sponsors.

Ray and Christi together worked to ensure the Silent Auction at the Annual Fall Festival was a success. For the next year, the day after the auction was over, he would pray and ask God to reveal the goal he should strive for, and Ray met this goal each year he worked the auction. That is just how committed he was to the Lord's work, and God richly blessed him, not financially, but by giving him a wonderful successful life of 85 years. Through trials and tribulations God was always his anchor.

Instead of flowers, which Ray saw as a horrible waste of money, he would be honored for contributions to be made to Saint Vincent de Paul in Huntsville to help continue the work to help those less fortunate. - https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/society-of-st-vincent-de-paul/fhfc---st-thomas-the-apostle-huntsville-conference

Psalm 23 (Ray died while listening to this Psalm)