Clyde Irby Ray Jr

Clyde Irby Ray Jr. passed away on 1/31/2025 at the age of 84.  He was born in Jacksonville, TX on August 21, 1939, to Clyde Irby Ray Sr. and Minnie Leotis Slider Ray.

Funeral services for Clyde Irby Ray Jr. are scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Bro. Wayne Brinkley officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.  He will be laid to rest at Pierces Chapel Cemetery.  

 Irby grew up in Texas City, TX and graduated from Texas City High School in 1957.  In October of 1963, he married Jo Ann Saylors.  While living in Lake Jackson, TX, he worked for Charles Martin Petroleum as an inspector.  In 1969, he moved his family from Lake Jackson to Jacksonville, TX.  He worked for Carouthers Septic Tanks where he made cement tanks by hand.  Mr. Carouthers said he was the hardest working man he had ever hired.  Subsequently, he worked for Automatic Gas Company for 36 years, and under his management, it became the largest propane company in the immediate area. His customers were always important to him, and he would sometimes leave his warm bed at 2 AM to take a customer propane who had run out.  He once told his sons, “They have families that need to be warm to.”  He was selfless and never asked an employee to do something he was not willing to do himself.  He delivered propane to multiple generations of the same families over the years.

He loved to ranch and farm.  His wife, Jo Ann, was always by his side helping.  Above all, he was a Christian and believed in hard work. Any conversation would lead, eventually, to speaking about the Bible and Jesus Christ.  He never apologized for his faith.  He told his family 2 years ago that if he had this whole life to do over again, and could pick any family to live with, he would pick the same one.  Some of the last things he discussed with his sons were to keep faith in Jesus and be careful of who you trust in life, and how much he loved, and how proud he was, of his sons.  He worked his whole life to leave “a legacy” to his children.  He would say many times, “It is not right for the youth to lay up for the old.”

Irby was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde Irby Ray Sr. and Minnie Leotis Slider Ray, and his beloved and devoted wife of 60 years, Jo Ann Saylors Ray.

 He is survived by his sons, Mark Ray, Scott Ray, and Tracy Ray and wife, Christie; his grandchildren, Stephen Tyler Ray and wife, Kristen, Jordan Guidry and husband Andy, Tanner Ray, Peyton Ray, and MacKenzie Ray; and his great-grandchildren, Braydon and Braxton Guidry; his brother, Billy Wayne Hammonds Sr. and wife, Shirley; his sister, Judy Davis and husband, James; his nieces, Tammy Lott and husband, Carl, Kim Schultz and husband, Randy; and nephew, Billy Wayne Hammonds Jr. and wife, Juli; and his nephew, Jerry Gibson; and other numerous great-nieces and nephews and friends.

 Pallbearers will be Mark Ray, Scott Ray, Tracy Ray, Stephen Tyler Ray, James Davis, Blake Price, and Charles Claiborne.

The family would like to give special thanks to the kind and professional doctors and nurses of Trinity Mother Frances of Jacksonville, and to recognize Dr. Ford, Dr. McCrady, Dr. Satterfield, and nurses Rachel and Laura.

And also, a special thanks to Heart to Heart Hospice.