Raymond Edward “Ray” Thomas, 85, passed away peacefully on July 20th. He was born in DeLeon, Texas, on June 11, 1926, to John Calvin Thomas and Mamie Wolfenbarger Thomas. Ray attended school through the 10th grade at Duster, Texas, and graduated high school in Gorman. He joined the U. S. Navy serving on the staff of Admiral B. J. Rogers in the Southwest Pacific during WW II.
Ray was employed by Sohio Petroleum Company for twelve years in the Land and Legal Department . He established Nugget Exploration Corporation to explore for oil and gas as an independent and later joined R. P. McCulloch in developing, Lake Havasu City.
Ray directed development and lot sales at Lago Vista on Lake Travis and as executive vice president of National Resorts Communities, directed marketing at Horseshoe Bay on LBJ.
Ray developed and marketed his own properties -- Scenic Cove, WatersEdge at Mount Bonnell, Mount Bonnell Shores, Colorado Crossing, The Courtyard Phases Three A through F, St. Tropez, The Hook, The Island at Mount Bonnell, Bello Vista, Castle Forest, Champions Forest and Village of Angus Valley.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Hamrick, of Gorman and his son, David Ray of Eastland.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Nichols, of Austin; his son, Donald J. Thomas, of Johnson City; stepdaughter, Lisa Rosenhagen, her husband, Brad, and grandson, Blake, of Round Rock; granddaughter, Kimberly Moreno, and her husband, Jessie, of Eastland; granddaughter, Kristi Quigley, and her husband, Eugene, of Lakeland, Georgia; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in the Smith Chapel at Riverbend Church, 4214 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin, Tx 78746 on July 28th at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice Austin.
http://www.hospiceaustin.org
