Obituary for Ray Joe Riley
Ray Joe Riley, age 85, of Hart, Texas, died Monday, February 22, 2021 in Dimmitt, Texas. He was born May 11, 1935 in Plainview, Texas to Ray and Edna (Davis) Riley. He married Jo Eddy Scott in Hereford, Texas on October 7, 1961.
Ray Joe graduated from Springlake-Earth High School in 1952 and Texas Tech University in 1956, where he was a member of the 1955 National Champion Crop Judging Team. He served in the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Jo Eddy farmed in the Sunnyside and Hart communities for many years. Ray Joe received many accolades, such as the Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturist Award in 1974 at Texas Tech University; Outstanding Man in Texas Agriculture in 1977; and Outstanding Alumnus at Texas Texas University in 1979. In 1972, he was the president of Plains Cotton Growers. He was on the Springlake-Earth ISD School Board for nine years, where he also served as president during that time. Ray Joe was a registered plant breeder #036. He was a director for City Bank from 1996 until 2013, and on the Federal Reserve Advisory Committee from 2000 until 2003. He was on the ground floor of building and operating Estacado Industries in Sunnyside. Ray Joe was a member of the Earth Church of Christ. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jo Eddy in 2014; his parents; and his brother, Kim Riley.
Ray Joe is survived by his two sons, Kevin Riley and his wife, Melinda of Springlake, Texas and Jodie Riley and his wife, Chantel of Muleshoe, Texas; five grandchildren, Kassidy Pagett and her husband, Blake, Zack Riley and his wife, Taylor, Evan Riley, Josh Riley and his wife, Brittney and Sheridan White; and two great-grandchildren, Lincoln Pagett and Harper Ray Riley.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Marbridge Foundation, where Ray Joe’s brother, Kim, lived for over 40 years, PO Box 2250, Manchaca, Texas, 78652.
Ray Joe graduated from Springlake-Earth High School in 1952 and Texas Tech University in 1956, where he was a member of the 1955 National Champion Crop Judging Team. He served in the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Jo Eddy farmed in the Sunnyside and Hart communities for many years. Ray Joe received many accolades, such as the Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturist Award in 1974 at Texas Tech University; Outstanding Man in Texas Agriculture in 1977; and Outstanding Alumnus at Texas Texas University in 1979. In 1972, he was the president of Plains Cotton Growers. He was on the Springlake-Earth ISD School Board for nine years, where he also served as president during that time. Ray Joe was a registered plant breeder #036. He was a director for City Bank from 1996 until 2013, and on the Federal Reserve Advisory Committee from 2000 until 2003. He was on the ground floor of building and operating Estacado Industries in Sunnyside. Ray Joe was a member of the Earth Church of Christ. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jo Eddy in 2014; his parents; and his brother, Kim Riley.
Ray Joe is survived by his two sons, Kevin Riley and his wife, Melinda of Springlake, Texas and Jodie Riley and his wife, Chantel of Muleshoe, Texas; five grandchildren, Kassidy Pagett and her husband, Blake, Zack Riley and his wife, Taylor, Evan Riley, Josh Riley and his wife, Brittney and Sheridan White; and two great-grandchildren, Lincoln Pagett and Harper Ray Riley.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Marbridge Foundation, where Ray Joe’s brother, Kim, lived for over 40 years, PO Box 2250, Manchaca, Texas, 78652.