Raymond John Elliott

Our Heavenly Father called Raymond John Patrick Elliott home on April 1, 2022 (aged 84), and his smart, articulate, energetic, entertaining, and caring presence will be missed by all who knew him. Born in Akron, Ohio, at Saint Thomas Hospital, he graduated from Saint Paul’s Elementary School in Akron, attended Saint Charles Catholic Seminary in Catonsville, Maryland, and later graduated from Saint Vincent High School in 1955. Ray graduated with a BA in Business with a focus on Accounting and Finance from the University of Akron in 1959, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, and Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, where he served as president of his chapter for one year. Ray then went on to earn his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1962. Throughout his life, he remained an enthusiastic and loyal Michigan football fan, and always looked forward to cheering the Wolverines to victory with his family from his home in Texas.

Ray began his legal career as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the US Air Force, earning the rank of Captain. He served in both Altus, Oklahoma and Taipei, Taiwan, before practicing law as a civilian at a law firm in Canton, Ohio. His legal career included in house legal positions at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, BF Goodrich, and Dana Corporation. Ray also served as General Counsel of Gardner Denver Corporation. He went on to found Elliott Law Offices, PC in Dallas, Texas, a firm specializing in civil litigation for over 40 years. Ray leveraged his experience with large and sophisticated corporations to represent people with everyday legal issues, including victims of severe injuries. He became Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, earned an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and served as the President of the North Dallas Bar Association.

As important as his career was to him, it paled in comparison to his dedication to his faith and family. Ray met his wife, Lee, in 1967, and they married at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Akron, Ohio on August 23, 1969. They renewed their wedding vows at their 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in August of 2019. Ray was a member of both Saint Rita Catholic Church, where he served as a lector, Prince of Peace Catholic Church, and All Saints Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus through Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Malakoff, Texas.

In his free time, Ray enjoyed boating, waterskiing, snow skiing, piloting, tennis, golfing, genealogical research and taking care of his yard. His favorite retreat was the family’s lake house on Cedar Creek Lake, where he was able to enjoy several of these activities. He was an avid traveler, and had visited many foreign countries and most states in the US. Ray loved family trips, and traveled often with his extended family. He also loved going out to eat, and many weekends were filled with large family meals at his favorite restaurants. He greatly enjoyed his grandchildren, and nothing made him as proud as his family.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Leo Elliott and Mary Bernadette Elliott, and his sister, Mary Joan Elliott. Ray is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Leanna Elliott (Slinger); his daughter, Shannon Elliott and her husband Nabil Khawla; his son, Sean Elliott and his fiancée Elena Schwem; his daughter Kerry Helms and her husband Stephen Hoffman, and his grandchildren: Kailee Helms, James Elliott, Thomas Elliott, Ramy Khawla-Elliott, Logan Helms, Noura Khawla-Elliott, Jacob Elliott and Kaitlyn Hoffman. He is also survived by his sister, Arlene Elliott.

His wake and rosary will take place at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home on Thursday, April 7th from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at All Saints Catholic Church, Dallas, Texas at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 8th. A reception will be held immediately following the service at Café Amore on Coit Road in Richardson, Texas. The Mass will be live streamed on YouTube by All Saints Catholic Church Dallas, TX. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.TedDickeyWestFuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Cross Catholic Outreach, an organization that provides food, water, housing, education, orphan support, medical care, microenterprise, and disaster relief - and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ - to the poorest of the poor in over 30 countries around the world. Donation information can be found at crosscatholic.org.