OBITUARY: W.M. Rainey, 93, of Marble Falls dies May 23, 2014
W.M. “Bill” Rainey transitioned on May 23, 2014, at dawn.
Bill was born Feb. 15, 1921, in Delta County, Texas, to Edna and W.M. “Mack” Rainey Sr. He graduated from Training High School at East Texas State Teachers College and attended college at the same. ETSTC is now Texas A&M University at Commerce.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Dorothy Chamberlain Rainey.
Bill and Dorothy were in Washington, D.C., during World War II, but moved home to Texas in 1945. After a short time in Commerce, they moved to Kingsville, Texas. In 1957, they moved to Austin and lived there at their Kingsland lakehome until moving to their ranch outside Clifton, Texas, in 1977. The pull of the Hill Country brought them back to Central Texas in 1993, when they purchased their last home in Meadowlakes, a community inside Marble Falls. Dorothy transitioned Oct. 1, 2008. Bill lived on his own until he moved into Gateway Gardens in September 2012.
Bill, having lived through the Great Depression and World War II, took lessons and impressions from those events to heart the rest of his life. He was incredibly generous to family, friends and strangers. He never missed an opportunity to share what he had with anyone who needed a helping hand, and he didn’t know prejudice toward another whose race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or cultural background did not match his. He has only female direct descendants, and he always supported them in pursuing their hopes and dreams and never hesitated to encourage them to be and do wherever their hearts led them.
Bill was a real estate developer. He and his business partner, Jim Brewer, developed Cottonwood Shores and several other properties in Lampasas, Kingsland, Evant, Adamsville, Center Point, Kerrville and Killeen.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Ravelle Kundinger and her husband, Tom, of Horseshoe Bay; granddaughters, Heather Neary and partner Jen Barrington and Channing Neary Adams and husband Roy, all of Austin; and grandson, Mark Kundinger, wife Aela and great-granddaughter, Kaya, who live in San Diego, Calif. Bill has two nieces, Jan Moore of Corsicana, Texas, and Sally Hicks and husband, Judge of Portland, Ore. Bill was close to his nephew by marriage, Brode Chamberlain and his wife, Christi of La Porte. Bill had many good friends and wonderful neighbors who kept up with and whose calls and visits made his last years with Dorothy so much easier.
His family is so thankful for the kindness he was shown by the staff and residents of Gateway Gardens, especially, Mary, Susan, Sarah, Tara and Betty. Bill was lovingly attended by very special caregivers. So much gratitude is given to Nancy Flores, Sheri Wisener, Rosie Franco, Ina Mae Schilling, Ann Burney, Maria Steele, and Elizabeth Landeros. The family could not have gotten by without the support and attention of Seton Highland Lakes Hospice.
Bill will be buried in Commerce alongside his wife and parents. A graveside service is 2 p.m. May 25 at Rose Mound Cemetery. A celebration of life service is 1 p.m. June 7 at First United Methodist Church in Marble Falls in cooperation with Grace Methodist Church of Granite Shoals.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Seton Highland Lakes Hospice, First United Methodist Church in Marble Falls or Grace Methodist Church in Granite Shoals.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373.