Sammy Cashen Ray (Sam), aged 80, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, in Burnet on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Born and raised in Burnet, TX, Sam was the youngest of four siblings.
He graduated from Burnet High School and enlisted in the United States Army shortly after, where he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. After being honorably discharged, Sam spent most of his working years in route sales, as a sales manager for Anheuser-Busch and Coors Beer Companies and ButterKrust and Rainbow bread companies. In his later years he worked with his brother Bill in several convenience stores Bill owned in Austin, Bertram, and Burnet. He greatly enjoyed working with the public.
He said his greatest accomplishments were his five daughters, and he always wanted to hear about their lives, jobs, children, and dogs. Sam did not have a dog of his own in his retirement years, but could tell you about each of his grand-dogs. He was a great story-teller and loved sharing his many tales about growing up in Burnet, his time in the Army, and the many stories of times spent with family. He was an avid football and baseball fan, rooting for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, Houston Astros, Texas Longhorns, Boise State Broncos, Texas State Bobcats, and TCU Horned Frogs. He loved to grill and was a barbeque master. He enjoyed many evenings and weekends grilling at home and at family gatherings.
Sam was preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law Nel and Bud Green, sister Jan Smith, mother and father Georgia and Ben Ray, nephew Jack Ray, and granddaughter Chelsi West. He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Mike Ross, daughter and son-in-law Janie and Ken Smith, daughter and son-in-law Terri and Mark Coffman, daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Jason West, daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Ryan McCrary, brother and sister-in-law Bill and Nancy Ray, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Sam will be held at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 1:00 PM. A private graveside service will be held at Central Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery in Killeen at a later date.
Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Ross, Ken Smith, Mark Coffman, Jason West, Ryan McCrary, Steve Barrington and Pat Gregory.
The family wishes to thank Baylor Scott and White Hospice and especially Sam’s nieces Beth Mayberry and Debbie Peschel for their special care.
