Ray Thomas Paxton

Shreveport, LA- Funeral services celebrating the life of Ray Thomas Paxton, 75, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2015 in the chapel of Centuries Memorial Funeral Home. Officiating will be Pastor Chris Hough. A family graveside service will be at Pelican Cemetery in Pelican, LA. Visitation with family will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home.

Ray was born on December 14, 1940 to Kearny and Nora Burns Paxton in Pelican, LA. He attended Fairfield Elementary, Linwood Junior High and Byrd High School, where he played football. After high school, Ray joined the United States Navy, serving from 1960-1964 on the U.S.S. Shangri-La. Upon being discharged from the Navy, Ray met and married the love of his life, Dorothy.

Ray's life-long passion was boxing, which he started at the early age of 11. He began his training under former boxers Joe Engi and Irish McNeil. During his time in the armed forces, he was the Navy boxing champion in England, Spain and Turkey, By the time Ray began coaching in 1966, he had competed in over 200 amateur fights. His desire to train and guide others led to his founding of Paxton's Gym in 1972.

Over the course of his career, Ray had the privilege to coach many talented individuals. Local fighters such as Vic Burns, Tim Dement, Blake Franklin, Sammy Miller, Mark Peters and Charlton Young are just a few who trained under him. Ray's dedication to the sport also awarded him opportunities of a lifetime. He was the director of the Louisiana Golden Gloves. He worked on more than eight national boxing teams and was no stranger to the Summer Olympics, having coached several US Olympic teams and five junior medalists throughout his career. During Ray's participation with the 1992 Summer Olympics, it was Oscar De La Hoya who would go on to win the gold medal for boxing.

While his passion was boxing, many credit Ray for changing their lives. In many cases, he was not only a coach, but a father figure. For his commitment to helping young adults in the area, Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower proclaimed March 18th as Ray Paxton Day in 2006. The following year, the National Golden Gloves honored him by inducting him into the Coach's Hall of Fame.

Left to cherish Ray's memory is his wife, Dorothy Paxton; one daughter, Lisa Giddens; two wonderful grandchildren, Chelsea and Paxton Giddens, who he raised as though they were his own. Also, surviving him are two aunts, Marie Burns LaTona and Helen Burns Thomas, as well as family members, Victor Lynn Burns, Jesse and Betty Sherman. The family would also like to thank all of those who worked and trained with Ray over the years.

Pallbearers will be: Vic Burns, Blake Franklin, Donny Jackson, Sammy Miller, Mark Peters and Charlton Young.

You may share words of comfort with the family by visiting www.centuriesmemorialfh.comrrangements under the direction of Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport, LA.