Obituary of Ray Lewis Herndon

Ray Lewis Herndon, age 83 of Carrollton, Texas, was born on February 28, 1939, in Dallas, Texas and sadly passed at his home from this life into the Kingdom of Heaven on Sunday, November 6, 2022, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and a series of recent strokes.

Ray was one of eight other siblings born to the late Raymond Edmond and Jewel Herndon of Dallas, Texas. He is survived by his siblings Billie Jo Herndon of Rowlett, Texas, Johnny Herndon and wife Linda Herndon of Mesquite, Texas, and Donald Herndon of Dallas, Texas. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, David Herndon of Carrollton, Texas, Charles Edward Herndon of Farmers Branch, Texas, and Bobby Wayne Herndon of Garland, Texas: two sisters, Betty Jane Harris of Farmers Branch, Texas and Nancy Jean McKenzie of Farmers Branch, Texas and several late brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

On April 26, 1968, Ray married his first wife Karen Ellabeth Stiles of Dallas, Texas and they would bring to this world fraternal twin girls Heather Herndon Bargach and Holly Lynne Rogers. Karen and his daughter, Heather Herndon Bargach of Carrollton, Texas, proceed him in death. Ray adopted Heather’s son shortly after her passing in 1993, Bradley Quinn Herndon, and is survived by Holly and husband Richard Shepley Rogers of Murphy, Texas, and Bradley Quinn Herndon of Denton, Texas. He also has two grandchildren Heather Brooke Rogers of Murphy, Texas and Hastin Ray Herndon of Runaway Bay, Texas. Ray is also survived by his brother-in-law, Rick Stiles and wife Trecia Stiles of Plant City, Florida, and sister-in-law, June Stiles of Pearland, Texas. Ray also preceded in death by his late mother-in-law Kathryn Perkins Stiles of Franklin, Tennessee and his late father-in-law, Clayborn Stiles of Memphis, Tennessee, his late sisters-in-law, Marsha Jyl Rogers of Dickson, Tennessee, and Jackie Stiles Harper of Memphis, Tennessee, and brother-in-law, John Stiles of Richmond, Texas. Ray is survived and preceded in death by numerous aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, first cousins, second cousins and third cousins.

On February 28, 1998, Ray remarried to Margaret Jo Herndon of Farmers Branch, Texas, who survives him, and welcomed her two daughters, Sharon Lantz and husband Dave Lantz of Addison, Texas and Darla Reese and husband Tom Reese of Sanger, Texas to the family. His grandchildren are Kelsie Longoria and husband Brandon Longoria of Sanger, Texas, Halen Barrett of Arlington, Texas, Ella Reese of Sanger, Texas, Stacy Cude and husband Chris Cude of Franklin, Texas, Heather McCrary of Killeen, Texas, Eric Mears and wife Julie Mears of Calvert, Texas. Great grandchildren include Jude, Jayton, Gavin, Lane, Tye, Perry, Killeen, Garrett, Maci, and Cash Longoria and Kane Longoria of Sanger, Texas. He is also survived by brother-in-law Weldon Burchett and wife Margaret Burchett of Farmers Branch, Texas, and sister-in-law Joyce Evans of Seymour, Texas, brother-in-law Herbert Burchett and wife Lanell Burchett of Gainesville, Texas.

Ray served in the United States Army from May 1959 to May 1962 during the Congo crisis and the Berlin Wall Crisis while the United States was airlifting people from Berlin, Germany. He trained as a Medical Specialist in Company E, 3d Battalion, USAMTC, and later assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, 11th Army Field Hospital in Augsburg, Germany. Ray worked as an accountant for the American Red Cross Association in Dallas, Texas and retired in approximately 2008.

While Ray may have left us behind to go to his Father’s house, his soul will continue living on through his family and friends. Ray was arguably the most caring, kind, respectful, and loving person you would have ever had the pleasure to know. He was a man who, throughout his lifetime, devoted himself to his faith, his family, and the people he encountered.

Visitation services will be held for Ray on Thursday, November 10, 2022, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Christian Center Family Church, 13505 Josey Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234. His Celebration of Life services will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022, at 12:00 pm at Christian Center Family Church, 13505 Josey Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234. The cemetery procession will be led to Hilltop Memorial Park, 1810 Perry Road, Carrollton, Texas 75006 for the committal service at 2:00 pm.

Flowers are certainly welcome but in lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org/donate.