Lester Ray Fatheree's Obituary
Lester Ray Fatheree, age 90, went to be with the Lord on March 28, 2026. His legacy endures through the lives he touched, the values he lived by and the love he shared with his family and community.
He was born on November 11, 1935 in Humble to Lester D. and Della Marie Chambers Fatheree. In January of 1955, Ray married Alice Louise Floyd, the love of his life. Their union was marked by deep affection, mutual respect, and unwavering devotion. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, and family values.
Ray was a man of profound faith who trusted God completely. His dedication to his family, commitment to his faith, and service to his community were the hallmarks of his life. He embodied the spirit of service in every aspect of his existence, bringing warmth, kindness, and generosity to all who knew him.
A lifelong resident of Texas, Ray graduated from New Caney High School and pursued a diverse career path that included roles as a carpenter, lineman, systems analyst and pastor, touching many lives along the way. He served with Texas Baptist Men for 12 years. He was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Nacogdoches, where he worshipped and served the community.
Ray was a man of many passions. He loved fishing, hiking, traveling to the mountains, reading and sudoku. He loved nature and constantly pursued knowledge and personal growth.
He is survived by Alice Fatheree, his beloved wife of 71 years, and their children: Lester Ray Fatheree Jr. and his wife Kay, Ralinda Fenton and her husband Kevin, Jeff Fatheree and his wife Darlene. He was the beloved brother to Lois Purser, Robert Fatheree, Penny Smith and Peggy Byers. Ray was a cherished grandfather to Jonathan, Angela, Erin, Rachael, David, Elise, and Ethan, and a proud great-grandfather to Joey, Kassidy, Ryan, Ashton, Analeigh, Dylan, Axel, Sebastian, Corbin, Aiden, Caleb, Asher, Alexander, Nicholas, Gray and Adelaide. He was dearly loved by many extended family and friends too numerous to list. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester D. Fatheree and Della Marie Chambers Fatheree, and his grandson, Robert Michael Wagner.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held at the First Baptist Church chapel, 411 North St, Nacogdoches, Tx, at 2 pm on Friday, April 3rd, 2026, with a visitation one hour prior. His life was a testament to his deep faith and commitment to helping others, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy endures through the lives he touched, the values he lived by, and the love he shared with his family and community.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Texans on Mission, 5351 Catron, Dallas, Texas 75227 or at https://www.texansonmission.org/donate.
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