Ray Lyons

Ray Allen Lyons, 58 of Waco, passed away on May 26, 2023 surrounded by his loved ones while courageously battling continuous multiple organ illnesses and heart disease for the past 4 years.

Ray was a strong man most of his youth through adult life playing football at Crowley High School in the early 1980s and accepting a scholarship to continue playing football at Texas A & M while studying engineering. He received Associate Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 1988. After a knee injury, he continued classes at the University of Texas at Arlington and gained certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician. Eventually, he accepted an apprenticeship as a Journeyman Lineman. The culmination of these experiences led Ray to more experiences in the field of Lineman and service to others. It seems he was always destined to be in the service of others.

Ray found joy in helping others after disasters in several states replacing and reconnecting electrical structures and services. While working in Wichita Falls, he met and fell in love with Kathy (Katharine Ann) and married her on September 24, 1994, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

He was proud to be stepfather to her two young sons, Bryan and Daniel and in just two short years they welcomed their daughter, Kayla Elaine, on August 19, 1996. Kayla was and has always been the apple of his eye and the love was certainly reciprocal. A few years later they found a house near Lake Waco and settled into a semi-country life away from the bustle of the city of Waco.

Together they created an oasis in the backyard with Kathy putting her ideas into play and Ray completing the structures including a koi fish pond and many garden areas. Ray enjoyed fishing on the lake as often as he could, frequently spending time teaching his buddy Daniel to fish and eventually Kayla. Kayla enjoyed her time on the lake except for the speeding of the boat and hitting the waves.

Over the next 30 years, Ray continued to take courses and be certified with different types of heavy equipment and worked with several different powerline companies like Powerline Services, Kay Valley Electric Coop, Asplundh Powerline Division, Red Simpson Inc., Power Standard, Orbital Power, S&H Power, Southern Electric Coop, Brazos Power, and many other power contractors. He led a crew of linemen through several states including Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, New York, Georgia, and both North and South Carolinas. Ray took pride in starting his own business, RK Utilities, Inc., in 2012. After a total of 40+ years in the business, Ray was forced to retire in 2020 due to his many health issues.
Every time Ray would return home from disaster areas he would share with Kathy that he felt great pride in working to help the people and communities regain some resemblance of normalcy. Ray received several notes of appreciation for the work he did for electric companies as well as from people whose properties he worked on. He took great care in making sure he left the properties better than he found them.

Other things Ray enjoyed were reading books and eventually audiobooks in the genres of action, fiction, and adventure. A bit of hunting was tried but he enjoyed fishing much more. He loved watching movies, old country music, and the Celtic Women’s Group.

In his younger years, Ray was a part of the American Christian Heritage Foundation and he was awarded certificates of merit in music at Crowley High School. He enjoyed playing tuba at halftime while participating in the football games as is common in small rural schools. After gaining stepsons he involved himself with being a Cub Master for Cub Scout Pack 32 and he coached little league baseball.

Ray was baptized in the Baptist church as a youth after accepting Jesus Christ as his savior. After meeting Kathy in 1994, he chose to join her as a Catholic and was baptized and confirmed, reaffirming the acceptance of Jesus Christ as his savior.

Ray was a beloved husband, father, and grandpa; friend to many, and enjoyed putting a smile on the face of those he cared for. Ray had a strong sense of playful teasing and enjoyed witty banter.

His parents are Myrna and Allen Lyons of Blum, Texas preceded in death.

A loving and wonderful man was taken from us far too soon and those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Kathy, his daughter Kayla of Waco; and his stepsons Bryan Slayton, his wife Jaylee Hilliard, and daughter Everlee Slayton of Belton, Steven Slayton and Jenn Baggett, and daughter, Bella, sons Bryan, and Ben of Keene. Maria Lenart, mother-in-law of Waco, previously of Wichita Falls, Sister, Diane Phelps, and husband Mark, daughters, Krystal, Amber, and son Joshua. Another sister Mary Lynn Macsas and husband Leslie, and daughter Cherri Oswald and family. Uncle Dean Lyons and wife Connie. Aunt Rene Lyons and Numerous other family members and many dear friends.