Joseph Ray Nixon

J. RAY NIXON passed away on Saturday, the 13th of March 2010, after a long and joyous life.Born on the 4th of January 1928 in Santa Anna, Texas to the late Tom and Mary Nixon, J. Ray was raised in Normangee, Texas, attended Texas A&M University, and spent two years in the Navy before moving to Houston.For over forty years, J. Ray enjoyed a successful career in the air-conditioning business, but his lifetime passion was building relationships.He was a member of the First Methodist Church Houston, where he served as an usher for many years. In recent years, he served on boards for the FUMC parsonage, the Clarewood House, the LEVY district, and the MUD district; his tireless efforts also led to the construction of the fire station in Greatwood.

He is survived by his beautiful bride of fifty-nine years, Helen Burke Nixon; his sons: Ray and wife Denise, Ron and wife Ginny, and son Rick; his grandchildren: Ryan Nixon and wife Linsey, Jennifer and Ben Coats, Kelly and Spencer Nix, Chase Nixon, Burke Nixon and wife June, Brett Nixon, Ali and Trevor Hird, Jonathan Nixon and Sam Nixon; and his great-grandchildren: Noah Nixon and Benjamin Coats.J. Ray never met a stranger; he was loved not only by his own friends, but by the friends of his children and the friends of his grandchildren.The family desires to extend their special thanks to Dr. Michael Reardon and his team at the Methodist Hospital for helping to extend J. Ray's life for three years, so that he was able to see the weddings of four of his grandchildren, and the births of two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 16th of March, at First Methodist Church, 1320 Main Street in Houston, where Dr. Stephen P. Wende, Senior Pastor, is to officiate.Prior to service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in HoustonIn lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Mr. J. Ray Nixon may be directed to First Methodist Church, 1320 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002; or to Clarewood House, 7400 Clarewood Dr., Houston, TX, 77036.