Larry Joe Rayes

RAYES, LARRY JOE Husband. Father. Coach. Mentor. Friend. These words barely encompass the scope of limitless impact Larry Rayes had on every single person who crossed his path. Rayes was born Sept. 2, 1947 and ascended into Heaven on July 30, 2013. A native of Chickasha, Oklahoma, Rayes' passion for sports and his genuine love and compassion for those with whom he came in contact earned him the affectionate titles of "Coach Rayes" and "Papa Larry" respectively. After graduating high school, Larry attended Oklahoma's Cameron State Agricultural College on a baseball scholarship. After completing that program, he went on to play football at Langston University, the state of Oklahoma's only historically black university. As a Langston University graduate, Larry entered his beloved coaching profession where he gained his new and everlasting title "Coach Rayes," when he accepted a coaching-staff position at Florida State University. Traveling the country with his team as well as to recruit prospects, Larry struck up a friendly rivalry with a fellow coach -- Wendell Mosely -- who was coaching at Oklahoma University (OU). When Mosely landed the head coaching job at Houston-based Texas Southern University (TSU), Coach Larry Rayes came along for the ride. While at TSU, Larry Rayes also earned his Master's Degree. However, if you'd ask Coach Larry Rayes about the biggest "win" he experienced at TSU, he'd proudly say it was meeting and falling in love with Ms. Billye Batiste, a colleague/professor at the university, whom he later married. After TSU, Coach Rayes joined the Houston Independent School District, as head baseball coach, assistant football coach and math instructor at Booker T. Washington High School. He eventually moved to HISD's Sterling High School, again coaching both sports and teaching math. He eventually earned the head football coach spot. Later, Coach Rayes would receive the honor of serving as the district's athletic director of boys athletics, a historic move that led to the district's being a contender for multiple state championships during his tenure. Coach and Billye Rayes were as passionate about their students as any proud parents. While Coach Rayes developed award-winning, innovative teaching methods to enhance his students' understanding of math, Billye helped him develop strategic academic "game plans" that would help Coach Rayes' students make a seamless transition from high school to college. After 32 extremely fulfilling years with the Houston Independent School District and 40 total years in coaching – Coach Rayes traded his whistle and cleats, retiring in 2009, and he and his wife made the smooth full-time transition to doting grandparents "Papa Larry" and "Mama Billye." They soon relocated from Houston to Carrollton, Texas to play a more active role in their young grandchildren's lives. Larry also spent a great amount of time with another special woman in his life – his Aunt Beatrice Thomas, who (at the great age of 93) makes her home in Corpus Christi, Texas. Rayes and wife Billye threw her the biggest birthday bash of her life making his Aunt's 93rd birthday one for the record books. While in Carrollton, the grandparents eventually came out of retirement as part of the event-management team of Consumer & Market Insights (CMI), a successful company owned and managed by Royalyn and Angelo Reid, their daughter and son in law, respectively. From cheering on their grandchildren, Madisen and Parker Reid, at their many sporting and dance team activities, to traveling to Hawaii and Alaska as CMI event managers – this couple never let grass grow under their feet as they ushered in their golden years. Coach Rayes' life was always one dedicated to helping and blessing others. And when his heart grew weaker, he willingly participated in a ground-breaking, yearlong stem-cell research trial through Medical City Dallas Hospital (where leading cardiologists managed Rayes' care) that allowed researchers to examine ways to restore the functionality of an ailing heart. As the first North Texas patient enrolled in the study, Rayes shared with family and friends that he was very thankful to have been part of this effort to help researchers make progress in the treatment of congestive heart failure patients in years to come. Although his physical heart gave out on July 30, 2013, his emotional heart beats on in the lives of the family members, extended family and friends, former students, medical staff, church clergy and others who had the pleasure of knowing and subsequently loving this one-of-a-kind soul. Larry Rayes was preceded in death by his parents Antonio "Tony" and Geraldine Rayes; his son Larry "Chico" Rayes, Jr.; brothers Delbert, Ronnie and sister Judy. He is survived by wife Billye Rayes; a daughter Royalyn Reid (Angelo) of Carrollton, Texas; grandchildren Zack Rayes of Denver, Colorado; Madisen Reid of Carrollton, Texas and Royce Parker Reid of Carrollton, Texas; aunt Beatrice Thomas, sister Etta Rayes Fisher (Charles); brothers Toney Rayes (Billie); Bruce Rayes (Renee) and sister-in-law Mary Rayes and a world of dear nieces, nephews, cousins, family members, extended family, friends and colleagues.