Memorials › Royce Donald "Don" Raley

Royce Donald "Don" Raley

6 Oct 1933 – 26 Jan 2011

Birth6 Oct 1933
Death26 Jan 2011
CemeteryDawson Cemetery
Dawson , Navarro County , Texas , USA
Added byJames Coston on 12 Oct 2023
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64780364

Bio

Donald Raley, 77, died Wednesday, January 25, 2011 at Oakview Nursing Home in Hubbard, after a lengthy struggle to recover from severe, debilitating injuries resulting from a 2008 accident. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Wade Funeral Chapel in Hubbard with interment to follow in Dawson Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Royce Donald was born in Brushie Prairie, Texas, to the late Roy and Carrie (Berry) Raley, and they later moved to Dawson where Donald attended school. Don's life was richly marked with service to his country. When he was only 17, he made a surprising decision, and his parents gave their consent for him to enlist in the United States Army. By the time he was 18, he was stationed in Korea, and in 1958, became a lifetime member of the Army Aviation Association of America. Military assignments took him to Ft. Rucker, Alabama, Ft. Lee, Virginia, and Ft. Greely, Alaska. Later, he proudly completed two tours of duty in Vietnam, 1964-65 and 1968-69. He received many Army Commendation medals for meritorious service, one with its accompanying oak leaf cluster. He was also awarded the Distinguished Combat Service medal from the 147th Hillclimber Association as pilot of the Chinook. In 1999, he was recognized by the Fort Wolters' Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. Once he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer, W-4, after 23 years of military service, Don returned to Dawson where, for a time, he owned and operated Navarro Mills Bait House and Store. Don's commitment to living a life of service to help others continued in his community where he worked for a time as Dawson's night watchman and then as a trained EMT, serving for several years as a member of Dawson's Volunteer Ambulance Association. His work as a reserve officer with the Navarro County Sheriff's Department lead to his being named Peace Officer of the Year by the Navarro County Peace Officers' Association. From 2001-2004, he was Navarro Country Precinct 3 Constable. His life was expansive, serving his community as well as his country. In 1991, Don married Anita Richardson, who loved him beyond measure and not only was he her husband but her best friend as well. Throughout Don's illness, Anita unceasingly devoted herself to him as his loving caregiver. Don was strong-willed, sometimes to a fault, but he also possessed a generous nature and a willingness to help people. His life speaks of his caring about others on the other side of the globe as well as his community and family. A member of the First Baptist Church, Don spoke about his faith often and found comfort in his Bible (which he had read in its entirety more than once). Preceding him in death are his father, Roy Raley in 1991; his mother, Carrie Raley Snider in 2004; and his older sister, Joyce Hubbard, in 2007. Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Anita, of Dawson; daughters, Suzie Withrow and husband, Mark, of Corsicana and Donna Mullins, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; stepsons, David Richardson and wife, Melinda, of Corsicana, and Roy Dean Ingham, of Corsicana; grandchildren Bradley Withrow, Ashley Withrow Douglas and husband, Daniel, Josh Wilder, Hunter Richardson, Tanner Richardson, Mason Richardson, and Stephen Ingham, all of Corsicana; sisters, Ruby Nell Darden, of Bowie and Linda Hodge and husband, Daryl, of Streetman; brother Joe Raley and wife, Alma, of Port Neches; and many other family members and friends. Waco Tribune-Herald: 1/28/2011...Z6

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