Submitted by

Jim Newman

Raymond Lee Bennett

August 24, 1926 – February 14, 2008

     Raymond Lee Bennett, age 81, a resident of Taft, Texas passed away Thursday, February 14, 2008 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was born on August 24, 1926 in Chilton, Texas to John Harrison Bennett and Lillian Koon Bennett. Mr. Bennett moved to Taft in September 1946 and worked for Cage Implement Company. In 1952, he went to work for Reynolds Metals Company in the power plant. He retired in 1984 and continued to work for Reynolds and other firms for five years as a mechanical consultant. Mr. Bennett, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, joined the Navy in August 1944 and served in the Marshall Islands until his honorable discharge in April 1946. He most recently attended the Weber Road Church of Christ in Corpus Christi, Texas.

     Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Dorothy Marie Cunningham Bennett; and brother, John Harrison Bennett, Jr. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Sherry Lee (Ken) Mirts of Red Oak, Iowa, Pamela Kay (Steve) Tucker of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Debra Lynn (Dennis) Lawless of San Antonio, Texas; sister, Sammie Ruth (Bob) Niesen of Fort Sumner, New Mexico; seven grandchildren, Amy Dilocker, Kimberly Poen, Jill Tucker, Claire Tucker, Scott Lawless, Melissa Lakins and Nathan Lawless; and seven great-grandchildren.

     Visitation will take place on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at the Colonial Funeral with the family receiving friends that evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Colonial Funeral Chapel with Minister George Pledger officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Miller, Harley Carrell, Lou Pingaro, Steve Cory, Larry Ewald, Robert Wenger, Billy Brittain, Ken Cox, Clarence Dorman, Leonard Reiley and Harold Krieg. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Bennett requested that donations be made to Sunny Glenn Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1373, San Benito, Texas 78586. Services are entrusted to Colonial Funeral Home, 204 North Meyer Street, Taft, Texas 78390.