Raymond Hargis' Obituary
Raymond Edward Hargis, 83, of Trenton, Texas, passed away on February 13 at home with his loved ones by his side. He is now at peace with his Eternal Father.
He was born in Jasper, Texas, on April 5, 1940, to Willie Mae Hollis and William Lake Hargis. Ray attended Woodrow Wilson High School before attending Stephen F. Austin State University. He then enlisted in the Air Force before working for Southwestern Bell, where he retired after more than 30 years. During his retirement, he was an active member of the Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, and Sons of the Revolution. He also spent numerous hours researching family genealogy.
Ray was initiated into the Order of the Eastern Star on March 28, 1994, into Delta Chapter #824 in Dallas, where he served as Worthy Patron from 1997 to 1998. He became a member of Edwin J. Kiest #959 on March 9, 1998, where he served as Worthy Patron from 2001 to 2002. He became a Bonham Chapter member, serving as Worthy Patron from 2008 to 2009. He served as Worthy Patron of Whitewright #939 from 2018 to 2019 and Worthy Patron of Leah Elliott 1119 from 2018 to 2020. Ray served the Grand Chapter as Grand Sentinel from 2010 to 2011. He served on the Board of Directors of District One from 2013 to 2017 and again from 2022 to 2023. Ray was also Executive Chairman of the Grand Chapter from 2018 to 2019 and 2022 to 2023. He served General Grand Chapter, Triennial Assembly Committee as Texas General Co-Chairman from 2018 to 2021.
Ray was initiated into Jewel P. Lightfoot #1283 Masonic Lodge on February 18, 1993, where he served as Worshipful Master and Secretary. After moving to Trenton, he joined the Trenton #761 Masonic Lodge on April 8, 2005, where he served as Worshipful Master, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden, Junior Steward, Chaplin, and Master of Ceremony. He also joined the Ashley #681 Masonic Lodge on January 29, 2007, where he served as Master of Ceremony, Secretary, and Senior Steward. Ray was awarded the Golden Trowel Award from Jewel P. Lightfoot #1283 Masonic Lodge on October 12, 2002, and he was awarded
the 25-Year Service Award from Trenton #761 Masonic Lodge on February 28, 2018. Ray also served as District Deputy Grand Master from 1999 to 2000 and from 2010 to 2011, and he was a member of the Grand Lodge Committee of Grievance and Appeals #3 from 2000 to 2001.
Ray was active in Scottish Rite, receiving the 33rd Degree IGH for outstanding service.
Ray was preceded in death by his mother, Willie Mae Hargis, his father, William Lake Hargis, and his brother, William Roy Hargis. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-one years, Linda; his children, John Hargis, Kelley Hargis and wife, Dawn; and daughter, Laura Thedford, and husband, Jayson; grandchildren, John Hargis, Scott Dykowski and wife Sarah, Ashley Garcia and husband Colten, Kaitlin Broughton and husband Karly, Justin Hargis, Matthew Hargis and wife Christine, Luke Hargis, and Nathaniel Hargis. Great grandchildren, Kinley and Kylar Broughton, Darci and Audrey Dykowski, Joey and Theodore Garcia. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family, and they will forever miss him.
Funeral services will take place at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 20, from 6:00-8:00 PM, and the funeral on Wednesday, February 21, at 2:00 PM, followed by graveside services.
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