Ray Lynn Kirchner

Funeral services for Mr. Ray Lynn Kirchner, 82, of Carthage, Texas will be 12:00, Noon Friday, March 1, 2013 at the Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel with Bro Richard Pruitt officiating. Burial will follow in the Carroll Springs Cemetery in Athens, Texas under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Family visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. Thursday night at the funeral home. Mr. Kirchner died February 25, 2013 in Tyler, Texas. Mr. Ray Lynn Kirchner was born January 7, 1931 in Camp Wood, Rio County, Texas to Richard and Ann Kendrick Kirchner. He grew up on a ranch in Montell, Texas, with goats, sheep, horses and cows. He played and worked hard as a child. He attended Uvalde schools, graduating from high school in 1948, and attended Southwest Texas, Jr. College, graduating in 1951 with an Associate of Arts Degree. He went on to complete three degrees from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry in 1953, Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 1959 and a Masters Degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1961. He served his country through the U. S. Army for two years beginning in 1954. He married Margaret Kirchner, his wife of 37 years, in 1962. Ray worked for Tenneco Oil Company in Houston during the late 1960’s. He was well respected in his field, and instilled a strong work ethic in his children and grandchildren. Twin daughters Karen and Sharon were born in 1967. He moved his family to Carthage in 1976, where he worked as an independent consultant in the oil field, operated his cattle ranch and continued to raise his daughters. In later years, after he retired, he enjoyed running his cattle ranch, and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He would often be seen driving his John Deere tractor with one or more kids in the front end loader, giving them a ride! He had a lifelong love of horses and cows. Ray was widowed in 1999. He is preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Karen. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Stump and husband Jeff of Carthage, brother, Richard Kirchner of Deadwood, grandchildren, Brandon Trimble, Garrett Rayburn, Kayla Wallace and husband Jerry Lee, Kelsea Bushiey, Amelia Lee and Naomi Murray, great grandchildren, Maleigha Trimble, Keaton Lee, Abby and Javon Landers, and cousin Althea Blanton of Alabama, other relatives and a host of friends.

Tributes

Ray Lynn Kirchner

January 7, 1931 - February 25, 2013