Raymond Ray Speight

1929 - 2002

Raymond Ray Speight, 72, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant, died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2001, at an Azle hospital.

Funeral: 11 a.m. Friday at Pemberton Funeral Home, 1505 Washington St., Commerce, Texas. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Azle. Burial: Sonora Cemetery, Fairlie, Texas. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers: Larry Swinson, James Swinson, Ronnie Swinson, Lanny Jack Swinson, Joe Swinson and Roger Swinson.

Memorials: May be made to the American Lung Association or other charitable organization of your choice.

Raymond Ray Speight lived in Azle 22 years. He graduated from Commerce High School in 1947 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1948, where he remained 31 years.

His tours of duty included Great Falls, Mont., Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska and Fort Worth and San Antonio.

He married Mary Jo Mans Nov. 7, 1951, in Great Falls, Mont.

He and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary late last year with a trip to Branson, Mo. He enjoyed his retirement in Azle, where he spent many hours working in his yard and helping friends with any manner of projects. He loved visiting with neighbors, friends and family, sharing stories and jokes on the back porch.

He maintained contact with many lifelong friends through the internet. He was a husband, father, provider, caregiver, manager and friend to all he met. He was an influence in all of the lives he touched and he will be greatly missed.

He was a Protestant and was preceded in death by his parents, father, Fairl J. Speight and mother, Vina Fulfer Speight.

Survivors: Wife, Mary Jo Speight of Azle; sons, Raymond G. Speight of Okinawa and Stephen M. Speight of Baton Rouge, La; daughter, Barbara Hilbert of Seguin; son-in-law, Don Hilbert of Seguin; sister, Rogene Swinson of Fairlie, Texas; brother-in-law, Louis Swinson of Fairlie; stepmother, Virgie Speight of Wolfe City, Texas; aunt, Mertie Lou Cherry of Fort Worth; uncle, Roy Cherry of Fort Worth; uncle, B.B. Fulfer of Azle; aunts, Dorothy Fulfer of Azle, Lizzie Acker of Commerce and Maybell Acker of Wolfe City; grandsons, Stefan and Daniel Hilbert; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.