Obituaries

SHERMAN - E. Ray Barnes, 81, of Sherman, passed from this life on Friday, December 16th, at Texoma Medical Center in Denison. A Celebration of Ray's Life is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 19th, at First United Methodist Church in Sherman. Rev. Joe Ed Goolsby will officiate. Interment will follow immediately afterward in Cedarlawn Memorial Park. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Ray was born February 1, 1935 in Dexter, TX, to Elmer and Lillian Lewter Barnes. He attended school in Gainesville and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1953. Ray was larger than life. Every day was ripe for a party. Everyone who knew him believed they were his favorite. Ray attacked life with remarkable gusto! He viewed each day as a mountain to be conquered. For his boundless motto, Ray customized a famous Winston Churchill one-liner with just one more 'never', coining "Never, Never, Never, Never give up!" Ray had no plan-B and did not accept, nor acknowledge, defeat. Even as his physical body reached its limits, his indomitable spirit lives on in each of his children and grandchildren. Ray began his career in furniture sales in Oklahoma City, and continued his training at Weir's Furniture in Dallas. He soon returned to Grayson County where he founded Ray's Furniture in 1972, and later Barnes Home Furnishings. He took great pride in introducing his customers to their next 'favorite piece of furniture'. While furniture sales always remained the lifeblood, Ray had numerous, diverse sales exploits throughout his colorful life. Ray is survived by: his loving wife Pauline, of Sherman; daughter Shelly Stalls and husband Mark, daughter Kimberly Wilson and husband Scott, son Will Cates and wife Sandy; grandchildren: Parker Stalls, Javan Stalls, Baylie Barnes, John (J.D.) Barnes, Colin Barnes, Ava Barnes, Alyse Wilson, Lily Kate Wilson, Will Cates, Austin Cates and Peyton Cates. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Barnes, son John Barnes and granddaughter Ashlynn Nicole Barnes. The family appreciates memorial donations to the Salvation Army of Grayson County. Service arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman. The online registry is available at www.dannelfuneralhome.com