OBITUARY: Ray Frank Fleming Jr., 76, of Sunrise Beach Village dies May 22, 2013
Ray Frank Fleming Jr., 76, of Sunrise Beach Village, Texas, passed away May 22, 2013 at the home of his son, Ray of Austin. He was born to Ray Frank Fleming Sr. and Beatrice Galbreath on July 14, 1936, in Fennville, Mich.
Ray graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in chemical engineering. He worked for multiple companies in the petro-chemical industry, including Georgia Gulf Corp., the M.W. Kellogg Co. and Petro Tex Chemical Corp. Upon his retirement, Ray and his wife, Becky, moved to Sunrise Beach Village, where they owned and operated The Corner Store, a convenience store and gas station, for 12 years before they opened The Strand, a local Sunrise Beach luncheon establishment, where the shorter hours suited them both just fine. It was the final destination for many as the food was good and the conversation was plentiful.
Ray also was a city council member for 12 years in Sunrise Beach Village and was a retired member of the Sunrise Beach Volunteer Fire Department.
He is survived by his sons, Ray Fleming of Austin and Matthew D. Fleming and partner Tommie Rimes of Lakeland, Fla.; daughter, Elizabeth Fleming-Larratt and husband Glenn Larratt of Ithaca, N.Y.; grandchildren, Colin and Connor Larratt; and sisters, Joyce Bennett and husband Larry of Cape Coral, Fla., and Sharon Swathwood and husband Ken of Canadian Lakes, Mich.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Becky Fleming.
A gathering to celebrate his life is 2-4 p.m. June 22 at the Civic Center in Sunrise Beach Village. An inurnment at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sunrise Beach Volunteer Fire Department or the American Cancer Society.
Cremation arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home and Crematorium, 145 Texas Ave. in Kingsland, (325) 388-0008.