Christopher Stephen Raney

RANEY, CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN - 43, passed from this life on May 23, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after several years of illness. Born to Cliff and Joyce Raney in Cookeville, Tennessee, April 9, 1967, Chris grew up in Algood, Tennessee. After completing high school, he served honorably in the U.S. Army Airborne Screaming Eagles Air Assault Division in Seoul, Korea, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in Geography and Psychology, and he went on to complete coursework toward a master's degree in Behavioral Geography. Chris was united in marriage to Rose Becallo on January 16, 1993. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Knoxville at Weisgarber and North Broadway stations, and he was a very active member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church. He was a well-known and loved member of the Knoxville community. Known for his pleasant demeanor, abiding Christian faith, random acts of kindness, and intelligence, he was an avid amateur photographer, a true southern gentleman, and a friend to all. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Rose Becallo Raney, and stepson, Zachary Nicholson of Knoxville, Tennessee, parents Cliff and Joyce Raney of Algood, Tennessee, brother Johnie Raney of Cookeville, Tennessee, who donated part of his liver to extend Chris's life ten years, sister Melissa Conner of Livingston, Tennessee, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Burial of cremains will be June 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the East Tennessee Veteran's Cemetery, and services will be held the following day at Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Knoxville on June 12 at 2:00 p.m., Reverends Ann Robins and Roland Buck presiding. Chris's family wishes to thank deeply all the medical professionals who helped him over the past years, specifically Dr. Gary Spiegelman, Dr. John Adams, Dr. Keith Lindor, Dr. John Poterucha, Dr. Robert Fisher, Dr. Paulo Fontes, Dr. Abhinav Humar, Dr. Sumana Ramachandra, and all of the staff of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Transplant Intensive Care Unit. Donations may be made to the Ebenezer United Methodist Church Sunday School program in his honor, and please consider organ donation and make your intentions known to your family.