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Rayford Wyatt Johnson, known affectionally also as Ray, and as RW, was born on October 25, 1938, in Four Oaks, Johnston County, North Carolina. He was the 12th of 13 children born into the Johnson family. It should be no surprise to anyone who knew him that he probably never met a stranger in his entire life. Rayford grew up on the family tobacco farm in Four Oaks, attended local schools there, and drove the school bus before finishing High School. After High School, Rayford enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served for the next 26 years. His tours of duty in the military took him to many places over the years, including Japan, Okinawa, Korea and Viet Nam, where he served two tours of duty in active combat zones. After his retirement from Active Duty, Rayford enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserves, where he served a number of additional years, until his final retirement. Fortunately, one of his earliest military assignments brought him to San Antonio, Texas, where he met the lovely Mary Kay Neal. Rayford and Mary Kay were married on September 24, 1958, and were married for 56 years, until Mary Kay's untimely passing on January 4, 2015. Rayford and Mary Kay were blessed with two children: Brian Keith in 1961, and Karen Denise in 1965. Always eager to improve himself, Rayford completed his college degree in Sociology at San Antonio Community College in 1979. After "retiring," Rayford invested in and managed a number of rental properties, including a duplex, several single family homes and a service station. After Mary Kay's passing, he purchased and operated the RayKay Ranch in Floresville, Texas where he provided homes for as many as 36 cows and their calves. There is little doubt that after Mary Kay's passing, some of Rayford's happiest times were spent at the Ranch with his cattle, cruising the property in his gold Chevy Suburban, or driving his John Deere tractor. Rayford was a man of great faith, and he was a member of the Church of Christ for nearly all of his adult life. He served as a Deacon, and later as an Elder at the Harlandale Church of Christ. After the Harlandale congregation closed its doors in 2003, Rayford and Mary Kay were active members at the Southeast Church of Christ, and later were members at MacArthur Park Church of Christ. Declining health brought Rayford to Georgetown, Texas in February 2020 to live with his daughter Karen and her family. Karen was able to retire from her long career of teaching in order to become her Father's full-time caretaker, a job that she loved and did exceedingly well for the next two years. Rayford passed from this life on the night of Friday May 6, 2022 at the age of 83 years, 6 months, 1 week and four days. His son Brian, daughter Karen, Son-In-Law Craig and grandson Collin were with him when he passed. Rayford was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Wiley and Bertie Ellen (Barefoot) Johnson, and by all twelve of his siblings, his Sister-In-Law, Shirley Neal and his beloved Mary Kay. He is survived by his son Brian and wife Frances Ambrose of Wimberley Texas, and by his daughter Karen Dowell and her husband Craig and grandson Collin of Georgetown, Texas, and numerous family members in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida. He will be sorely missed by all.

Tributes

Rayford Wyatt Johnson

October 25, 1938 - May 6, 2022