Raymond Dornak

We’re all on borrowed time from the moment we take our first breaths. Fortunately for us, Raymond lived for 81 years. He buried one child and both of his parents. He was able to watch his other three kids grow up and have kids of their own.

As the only child of a row crop farmer and wife, he picked cotton to help pay bills. He learned at an early age that you get out of the land what you put into the land; money doesn’t grow on trees; and you don’t get to call in sick. After graduating from high school, he went into the Army and then the Navy. Upon leaving the service, he moved from the little farming town of El Campo, Texas to Houston, Texas where he worked at a local oil refinery for over 40 years.

Although his official occupation title was a refinery worker, he would rather be known as a gardener and fisherman. He loved teaching his kids, family and friends how to fish and garden. He loved fishing in Galveston and Matagorda Bays and if the saltwater fishing wasn’t good, he was running lines in the Colorado River. Between working and fishing, he found time to garden, as well as teaching himself to graft pecan trees and make homemade wine.

Raymond was a humble man and would hate that there is an article about him in the paper. He didn’t like anyone making a “fuss” over him. He loved Jesus and always preached in his own way. If you ever had a chance to sit with him outside for more than a few minutes, he would point out God and His creation.

He loved telling jokes, laughing, seafood, BBQ, Mexican food and having a cold beer. He was a good friend to all. He was a great father to all of his kids – related and unrelated.

He is survived by his children Jeff, Becky, and Mark; daughter-in-law Judy; his grandchildren, Alex, Matthew, Jonathan, Sadie, Tessa, Morgan and Cobi; his best friends Brooks and Lynette May and their children Missi, Meredith and David and all those who called him dad, uncle, grandpa and friend.

Visitation will be Friday, December 2nd from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. A service will be held from 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Both visitation and service will be held at Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Center located at 3001 S. College Avenue in Bryan, Texas.

A service will be held at the Holy Cross Memorial Park Chapel on Saturday, December 3rd from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Holy Cross Memorial Park is located at 1720 S. Wharton Street in El Campo, Texas.

Condolences

  1. Raymond was a dear friend and coworker. He made the best pot of beans at the coker unit. I wish I could have gotten his secret recipe. After his retirement, we had many long conversations. “Save a spot for me on the beach, Ray, I’ll miss you.”

  2. Raymond was a fine man and one of my best friends may the Lord be with his family during this time of sorrow and give them comfort knowing that he is now in Heaven.

  3. Prayers to the family. Raymond always had a story to tell. I will miss seeing him over the Easter holiday with our family. He always was fun to sit with and talk. Love all of you and wish I could be there.

  4. I never met Raymond, but after reading his well written obituary in The Eagle I feel like I did. Whoever wrote that, thank you for making me and others aware of this fine man. Everything he did resonates with me. I can never meet enough like him, I only wish I could. People like Raymond add true value to our lives. I wish I could have spent just one day with him, I really missed out. I’ll never have anything like that written about me, my story pales in comparison. God bless you and your family, Raymond.

  5. So very sorry to hear of Raymond’s passing. I just found his obituary, but wanted to add that he was everything you read in it. He was my mom’s neighbor for several years and after my dad passed he was always there as a son. He would somehow always take time to look out for her, whether it was to run to the store to pick up a few groceries or take her to the doctor. He never failed to look after her. Living in another town always put my mind at ease just knowing that Raymond or his daughter, Becky took such good care of momma. My 93 year old momma dearly loved him and his family and we will forever be thankful for all they did. She never forgot his goodness toward her and whether she was making tortillas, tacos, tamales, or holiday meals she always had plates for Raymond and Becky. May God bless his family during their time of loss and we are thankful to have known him. Heaven gained an angel.

  6. I worked with Ramond quite a while. Spent most of our breaks figuring out lotto numbers and crossword puzzles , was a great guy. RIP hope you finally won that big lotto.

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