October 25, 1924 – May 4, 2022

Ray Arnold Huffman, 97, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great, great grandfather, brother and friend, died peacefully Wednesday, May 4, 2022. 

Ray, a native Texan, was born on a farm in Jean, Young County, Texas on October 25, 1924 to Arthur E. Huffman and Beth Grace Strickland Huffman.  Ray is survived by his loving wife, Modena Faye, his sons, Bobby from Bufford, Georgia, Larry and wife Mary Huffman from Alvin, Texas and daughter Cynthia Mathis and husband Dennis from Littleton, Colorado and sister Shirley Hartsell of Watauga, Texas.   He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Ray was preceded in death by his son Mike Huffman and brothers Jesse and Sidney Huffman. 

He met the love of his life while attending Olney High School, “I knew she was the one!”  They celebrated their 79^th Anniversary, February 14, 2022. 

Ray and Modena eloped their senior year of high school and were married in Newcastle, Texas on Valentine’s Day, 1943.  Their secret was discovered with the county publishing of marriage license the following month. They graduated high school together with special permission from school administrators.  Soon after, Ray joined the Navy in 1944 and served with honor in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign dodging flying debris from Kamikaze aircraft hitting his ship.  He was Honorably Discharged in February 1946 and returned to Modena and their first son, Bobby to work as a ranch hand in North Texas.  He soon was recruited by Phillips Petroleum.  Ray and family transferred to Alvin, Texas in 1953 where they continued to live.  Ray retired from Phillips as the Ethylene and Natural Gas Distributor for the Houston Gulf Coast after 35 years of service.  He and Modena traveled for several years enjoying the world sites.  His passion for antique cars clued He and Don Koster into a 20-year Model A and Model T’s restoration venture.  That interest never departed, enjoying Christmas parties with his many friends with and as a lifetime member the Model A Club of Houston. Ray kept an immaculate 1915 Model T until his death.

Ray loved Modena and they were always seen together and enjoyed many shared comings and goings.  They deeply enjoyed gardening and keeping their flowerbed beaming with roses and many floral colors.

Friends are cordially invited to the visitation with the family on Monday, May 9, 2022 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 992-7200.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at Confederate Cemetery in Alvin, Texas with Rev. Thomas Bolton officiating.

He loved his friends of shared faith at Bayou Drive Baptist Church and wished that In Lieu of flowers, donations were made to his family of faith at Bayou Drive Baptist Church of Alvin, 612 E. Dumble St., Alvin, Texas 77511 or www.bayoudrivebaptistchurch.com.