Raybourn Gartin

Raybourn Lauton Gartin
September 12, 1932 – October 3, 2025

Raybourn Lauton Gartin, 93, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025 in Pittsburg, Texas. He was born on September 12, 1932, in Lindrith, New Mexico, to William and Jessie Gartin. Raybourn was the second of eight children, with five brothers and two sisters. In 1945, the family moved from Lindrith to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he spent his teenage years surrounded by family, hard work, and a deep sense of faith and community.

Raybourn proudly served his country in the United States Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where he worked in the Artillery division.

He met the love of his life, Patsy Ham, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, while she was visiting her grandparents. Their families were longtime friends-her grandfather and Raybourn's father worked together building cabins throughout the area. Raybourn was immediately taken with Patsy, though she was only about thirteen at the time. With a smile, he often said he had to "wait for her to grow up" before he could marry her. And he did.

Raybourn and Patsy married on June 6, 1954, in Anton, Texas. Together they built a life centered around faith and family. They raised three children-Patricia, Laura, and Randal-and shared 63 years of love and memories.

Raybourn was a devoted member of the 12th Street Church of Christ in Shallowater for over 40 years. He worked for the Texas Department of Transportation for 36 years before retiring in August 1992.

Upon Patsy's retirement, they spent time traveling and serving as camp hosts in Colorado for seven summers. When home in Shallowater, he spent his time tinkering with perfectly good things that were better left alone. He had a collection of over 300 funnels. Raybourn and Patsy had two acres of land and Laura had 22 acres of land. She tried keeping her dad busy tending the land and animals galore. Raybourn and Patsy had a large greenhouse and kept chickens, guineas, and peacocks which Raybourn was proud of.

Raybourn was known for his love of Jesus and inviting people to church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy; his daughter, Laura; and grandchildren Reba Gartin and Curtis Childress.

He is survived by his daughter Patricia Childress and husband Rex; son Randal Gartin; grandchildren Shiloh Childress, Ginger Lindsey, and Travis Gartin; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Sherill Lopez of Cimarron, N.M.; and brother, Glenn Gartin of Republic, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Childress Philippines Mission to Winnsboro Church of Christ, P.O. Box 541, Winnsboro, Texas 75494, in his memory.