Mr. James Ray Grafton

Funeral services for Mr. James Ray Grafton, 81, of Carthage, Texas will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Fondren and Rev. Jared Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Bethel Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday night at Hawthorn’s. Mr. Grafton passed away May 14, 2017 in Carthage, Texas. Mr. James Ray Grafton was born May 30, 1935 in Panola County, Texas. He was the youngest of three children born to Fate and Lillian Collins Grafton. James Ray was raised and schooled in Buncombe Community and later attended Carthage schools graduating from Carthage High School with the class of 1953. He married Amanda Sue Nutt on May 4, 1960 and they celebrated 54 years together before she preceded him in death in 2014. Mr. Grafton worked for the City of Carthage before he began his career with the Texas Department of Transportation. He retired from there after almost 30 years of service as a maintainer operator. He was an active member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Panola County where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, church clerk, and member of the Men’s Brotherhood. Mr. Grafton also served as the Mt. Bethel Cemetery Association treasurer. Those who knew James Ray knew him as a kind and humble soul who loved his family, farming and working cattle. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sue; son, Michael; and sister, Maurine Nail and her husband Leon. Mr. Grafton is survived by his loving daughters, Susan Grafton Ross of Carthage and Sharon Grafton Kyle and husband Jeff of Gary, sister, Jo Alice Birnie and husband Charlie of Tulsa, OK; grandchildren, Courtney Daugherty and husband Skylar of Carrollton, Kristina Yates and husband Johnny of Carthage, Kaley Alexander and husband Kyle of Downsville, LA, Lindsey Bolton and husband David of Gary, Brady Kyle of Gary, Dillon Grafton and wife Sarah of San Diego, CA, Amy Grafton of Shreveport, LA, Dalton Grafton of Shreveport, LA, great grandchildren, Kora Brooke Alexander of Downsville, LA, Kypton Scott Alexander of Downsville, LA and Tucker Ray Bolton of Gary, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Pallbearers will Dillon Grafton, Brady Kyle, Dalton Grafton, Skylar Daugherty, David Bolton, Kyle Alexander, and Robert Williams. Pallbearers will Dillon Grafton, Brady Kyle, Dalton Grafton, Skylar Daugherty, David Bolton, Kyle Alexander, and Robert Williams. If desired, memorials may be made in Mr. Grafton’s name to Mt. Bethel Cemetery or Hopewell Baptist Church.

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Mr. James Ray Grafton

May 30, 1935 - May 14, 2017