Ray Dean Fleming passed away Sunday, July 29, 2018. We will gather for fellowship and remembrance from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life of 79 years on Thursday, August 2, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Lake Ridge Chapel. A tribute of Ray’s life may be found at www.memorialdesigners.net, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family.
Ray Dean Fleming was born on September 13, 1938, in Clovis, New Mexico, to Raymond Fleming and Marie Beall. The family lived in Melrose, New Mexico, then Orange, Texas, and later settled in Friona, Texas where he graduated high school in 1956. After high school, Ray Dean joined the Navy. He was stationed in Maine and the Mediterranean island of Malta. He served as a radio operator for a P3 Orion Sub Chaser. During this time, he also had the opportunity to travel to Greece, Italy, and Turkey.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he returned to Texas. While attending Texas Tech he met the love of his life, Jan Widener. They married on October 10, 1959 in Lockney, Texas. The couple lived in Friona where he joined his father in a very successful housing construction business. For several years, Ray Dean was the owner of the clothing store “The Hut” on Main Street in Friona. While in Friona, the couple had four children, Kipi, Karla, Reese and Loyd (known to the family as Patches). He was very involved in his children’s lives through coaching, attending their sporting events, and booster club. Ray Dean was a major contributor to his children’s love of football; particularly the Dallas Cowboys and many happy Thanksgivings were spent at Texas Stadium watching the game.
He had a very special place in his heart for his son-in-law, Milon. They were close friends. His two granddaughters-in-law were more than just relatives by marriage. He truly loved “his girls” Deidre and Morgan. They were as special to him as any blood-related granddaughters could have been and he was so blessed to have them in his life.
Later in his life, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren: Dallas, Sasha, Haylee, Jalayna, Trapper, Brooklyn, Raeley, Jaxon and Jacob. As with his own children, he enjoyed watching them participate in sporting activities. Later still, he enjoyed his great-grandchildren, Rowan, Kix, Riggs, Poppie, Gavin, Elijah, Keiran, Romy Beau, and Witten.
Ray Dean was a quiet, but very loving man. He enjoyed golf with his grandsons and son-in-law. He enjoyed old planes and anything to do with history. He liked watching football and occasionally golf tournaments on television. But more than anything, he loved his precious family and we are so grateful for each and every day we were given with him.
Survivors include his wife, Janis Fleming; two daughters, Kipi Lee Fleming, and Karla Dixon and husband, Milon; son, Loyd Widener and wife, Alison; five granddaughters, Haylee Swinford and husband, Alan; Jalayna Hooten and husband, Bobby; Brooklyn Ward; Sasha Medchill and husband, Brad; and Raeley Paige Fleming; four grandsons, Dallas Dixon and wife, Deidre; Trapper Dixon and wife, Morgan; Jaxson Ray Fleming, and Jacob Reese Fleming; seven great-grandsons, Rowan Dixon, Gavin and Kieran Swinford, Elijah Hooten, Riggs Dixon, Kix Hollingworth, and Witten Medchill; two great-granddaughters, Poppie Hollingworth, and Romy Beau Medchill; sister, LaVon Reeve and husband, Don Reeve.
