Raymond Joseph Kopycinski

Raymond Joseph Kopycinski, of Houston, Texas passed away on June 12, 2021, at the age of 94. He was born on August 7, 1926, in Chappell Hill, Texas, to Walter L. and Theresa Sobczak Kopycinski. A Catholic his entire life, Raymond was baptized as an infant at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Chappell Hill, and was a parishioner at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Houston.

Raymond moved with his family to Richmond, Texas, along with other Kopycinski families, referred to simply as “the country” at the age of two, where his father worked as a share crop farmer on the A. P. George Ranch. A white, wood-framed house with a notable red roof was home to Raymond and his family. As an employee of the Ranch, his father was provided the house by the George family for a lifetime. Raymond attended the A. P. George School, a one-room school house, located on the Ranch. Growing up on the Ranch was memorable and dear to Raymond’s heart and if he had a happy place, it would have been his family home on the George Ranch. One of his favorite times of year was dewberry season when he would pick dewberries with his parents and siblings and enjoy a warm dewberry cobbler afterwards. It was something he would continue to do until new development in the area cleared all the dewberry bushes years later. After his parents’ deaths he continued making weekly trips back to the country where he would visit with his brother Florence, also a Ranch worker, and they would fish, watch baseball on television, or just sit on the front porch, until his brother’s death in 2013.

Raymond, referred to as “the Pollock” by some of Janie’s family, was proud of his Polish heritage and was fluent in the language. He would recite one particular Polish children’s riddle to his children and grandchildren when they were little. He was a smooth and graceful dancer, especially when a Polka or Waltz was playing. Raymond also enjoyed a good two-step and listening to some of the best country music artists of all times - Ray Price, George Jones, Porter Waggoner, Bill Andersen, Little Jimmie Dickens, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, and many others. He also enjoyed listening to local bands and dancing on Saturday nights at Bill Mraz and barbecue and outdoor dancing at Mrs. Booth’s Trading Post in Booth, Texas in his younger days.

Raymond enjoyed being Dad to Joey and Jane-Marie. As a shift worker, time spent with them was limited; however, he started teaching Joey to play baseball at a very young age and getting Jane-Marie involved in softball. He enjoyed being Popo to his grandchildren. Jordan was his baseball player and picky little eater for whom he gladly cooked a waffle or whatever he wanted when he didn’t want to eat what was for dinner, Taylor was his sweet Sissy and softball player, and Hunter was also his baseball player and self-appointed tracker of Popo’s hidden stash of cash. Raymond also enjoyed visits from and being Popo Raymond to Mikayla Davis.

Raymond was a good cook, a skill he learned from his mother. He believed that all vegetables tasted better with butter and sugar added, that gravy was a must at every meal, and dessert was necessary, especially ice cream or even leftover rice with cinnamon and milk. Raymond’s fried round steak, fried chicken, and fresh caught fried catfish were always looked forward to by family members as were his meatballs and spaghetti.

Raymond moved to Houston, Texas at the age of 18 and went to work downtown in the M&M Building for Union Pacific as an office worker. A year later he started his 46-year career as a pressman for Continental Can Company, where he remained until his retirement in 1991.

A Depression Era child, Raymond knew well the value of a dollar. He worked hard and saved his money. His frugality was something he was teased about often, so much so that one friend joked with him about burying his money in coffee cans in his backyard so at his friend’s daughter’s wedding he had Janie empty out a coffee can and fill it with coins.

He bought his home in Shepherd Forest Subdivision in 1955 and lived there until his death. Several years prior to his retirement he began mowing yards in the neighborhood and continued to do so for 25 years. Having lived in the Subdivision for so many years, Raymond was well-known by the neighbors and in the years following retirement, would spend hours sitting out front of his house where he would visit with his neighbors on their daily walks.

Raymond is survived by his wife Janie Kopycinski, son Joey Kopycinski and wife Donna, daughter Jane-Marie Kopycinski, grandson Jordan Kopycinski and wife Jenny, granddaughter Taylor Kopycinski, grandson Hunter Kopycinski and fiancé Lisa Maez, and great-grandson Grayden. Raymond is also survived by his sister-in-law Margie Kopycinski, brother-in-law Bob Hemphill and numerous Kopycinski nieces and nephews and great great niece Peyton Hemphill. He is also survived by Janie’s family – Allen Roberts, Harriett & Joe LaFoy, Marilyn Roberts, Peggy Waters, LaNell Oehlers, Freddie & Vicki Roberts and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers T. J. Kopycinski, Florence Kopycinski, and Walter Kopycinski, and by sisters Dora Kopycinski and Marie Hemphill. He is also preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law Allen H. and Jane O. Roberts and brothers-in-law Eddie Oehlers and Jimmy Waters.

The family requests that anyone wishing to make a memorial donation in Raymond’s memory make it to The George Foundation, 310 Morton Street, PMB Suite C, Richmond, Texas 77469.