He was a native and lifelong resident of Sulphur. Ray attended St. Theresa Catholic Church and Our Lady of Lasalette Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He enjoyed assisting the Knights of Columbus cook bar-b-que for the Bon Ton Festival and had participated with the Cursillo walks in Prairie Rhonde. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve veteran. Ray worked for 18 years for Livingston Shipyard in Orange, Texas, for Carpenter's Union No 953, and then for the Calcasieu Parish School Board in maintenance for 12 years until his retirement. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, frogging, gardening, and raising farm animals.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Clara Mier Dronette of Choupique; his children, Pam Reed and husband, James of Carlyss, Mendy Schoppe and husband, Eric of Austin, Texas, Nancy Horn and husband, Craig of Jasper, Texas, Becky Verret of Sulphur, Aaron Dronette and wife, Lena of Gillis, and Cindy Goodrich and husband, Ray of Denham Springs; his sister-in-law, Angie Dronette of Choupique; fifteen grandchildren, Courtney Kelley, Raleigh Reed, Bryce Schoppe, Allison Schoppe, Cory Ellison, Justin Ellison, Garrett Ellison, Blake Ellison, Cody Verret, Dustin Goodrich, Eric Goodrich, Luke Goodrich, Dylan Goodrich, Samantha Goodrich, and Aydan Dronette; and fifteen great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alpha and Mae Dronette; his brother, E.J. Dronette; and a great-grandson, Gabriel Verret.
His funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 6, in St. Theresa Catholic Church. The Rev. Luke Krzanowski, M.S. will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss. Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. Friday with a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. and from 8 a.m. until the time of service Saturday in the funeral home. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
