On Monday, October 24, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. Earl Ray East Sr., 76, went to be with his Lord and Savior! He was also reunited with his bride, Lucille Marie Richard East, of almost fifty six years! She preceded him on her journey to Heaven on May 13th, 2011. Ray missed her so much that he was eager to be reunited with her and awaited their reunion.
He was born on June 26th, 1935, in Beaumont, Texas, to Eddie and Rose East. Ray grew up in Winnie and lived there most of his life, but for the last thirty five years has lived in the Port Arthur area, He and his wife had six children: Deb, Sherry, Linda, Earl, James and Larry. Linda preceded her parents in death, in September of 2009. Deb and her husband Tom Hanks live in the Crosby area, Sherry and her husband John Foote lived with Sherry's parents for the last two years to care for them, Earl and his wife Penny live in Groves, James and his wife Michelle live in Bridge City, and Larry and his wife Mandy live in the Crosby area.
Ray is survived by a sister, Rose Fowler of Carthage, Texas. His sister, Betty McMellon of Carthage, preceded him in death.
He spent four years in the United State Air Force, basic training in Florida, where his oldest child was born, and then traveled to Germany, where his second child was born. Ray had lots of stories about Germany, the military, and the snow there, which he definitively had little taste for! He was a Texan at heart! Ray was a roughneck when he got out of the service, then eventually became a truck driver for local construction companies. He was a hard worker and not afraid to work and was always a good provider for his family. Ray enjoyed mechanic work and worked on all his own vehicles as well as friends and neighbors' cars. He was a "jack-of-all-trades" around the house. There wasn't much that he couldn't repair or put back together!
Ray enjoyed fishing and watching football. He also enjoyed Cajun and old country music and upon occasion even took to the dance floor with his beloved wife. Ray also was an avid storyteller and loved to keep people entertained with tales of his "adventures" as a young man with his friends in Winnie! He also enjoyed playing the harmonica (for family only). In the latter years, as his health deteriorated he became an avid couch potato, but thoroughly enjoyed watching TV! His favorites were John Wayne and old westerns!
Together Ray and his wife, Lucille had seventeen grandchildren: Les, Jason and Mandi Hanks, Steve Taylor, Brandy Gryder, Rachell Johnson, Ernest and Rachael Nolan, Jared East, Devon Armstrong, Samantha East, Kaleb, Austin, Zachary and Hannah East, Ryan and Sean Harlan; six great grandchildren: Quinton and Zach Taylor, Madison Stockam, Rylee Kenison, Dallas and Aly Asher, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He will be missed by all but knowing that he is now reunited with the love of his life that he has spent the last five months grieving and longing for his beloved wife, Lucille; will make our grief at least somewhat easier. As much as we miss them both it brings us some comfort knowing that they are now walking together again in the presence of our Lord and Savior!
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 27, 2011, at Broussard’s, 134 W. Buccaneer Drive in Winnie with burial to follow in Fairview cemetery. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, October 26, 2011, at Broussard’s.
