Raymond Louis “R.L.” Dodson was born October 22, 1928 in Wortham, Texas and went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 17, 2021 at the age of 92. R.L. was a legendary gentleman, a true and genuine soul. He loved to tell stories of his childhood growing up in the oilfields of Conroe. He played basketball and football at Conroe High School where he graduated in 1947 and shortly thereafter joined the Air Force. He met the love of his life in high school, Teenie Dodson whom he married in 1948.
R.L. and Teenie called Conroe their home and were both known for their civic work and service throughout their lives. R.L. had a long and successful career with Texaco Chemical where he worked as a laboratory technician until he retired. Some of his best memories came from over 25 years of riding the trails with the Montgomery County Trail Riders Association. His wagon, The Road Runners, held the 1st wagon spot for quite a long time where he carried riders for the Go-Texan Parades and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parades, along with the Dogwood Trail Ride and The Anderson Trek.
R.L. was also a lifetime member of the Montgomery County Fair Association, where he had been involved since it began over 60 years ago. He was an active committeeman on the BBQ Cookoff Committee, Swine Committee, Poultry Committee and the Senior Citizens Day Committee. One of the involvements he was most proud of was having the longest standing BBQ Cookoff team which began as a bank team long ago, but now is a family tradition for R.L.’s grandchildren.
He also spent a many a day on the baseball field coaching Bubba and in the stands cheering Nancy on in her drum-major activities. When he wasn’t at “the place” taking care of his cows and horses, you could always find him in the stands supporting his grandchildren during any event they participated in – he was undeniably their biggest fan and openly proud of them, all of the time!
R.L. was known as “the nicest man in Montgomery County” and was loved by all who knew him. He never met a stranger; he was a trusted friend and he was everyone’s Poppy! R.L. was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Louis Dodson and Ruth Laura Rice; wife, Mamie “Teenie” Lou Dodson; son, Milton Ray “Bubba” Dodson; sister, Marguerite Dodson Cupps; brother, Robert Jack Dodson.
He is survived by daughter, Nancy Harper and husband Randy; grandchildren, Erica Dodson Imhoff and husband Brandon, Derek Dodson and girlfriend Lindsey, Ashley Harper Hutchison and husband Lucas, Jeff Harper and girlfriend Christina; great-grandchildren Lane Thomas Imhoff, Tyce Milton Imhoff and Maebri Lou Hutchison; special loved-ones Amy Alexander and son Cody Brasuell. R.L was also survived by a number of special nieces and nephews, beloved extended family and life-long friends.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 23, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Cashner Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 24, 2021 at 1:00pm at West Conroe Baptist Church with burial following in Oakwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers for the service will be Derek Dodson, Jeff Harper, Brandon Imhoff, Lucas Hutchison, Lane Imhoff, Tyce Imhoff, James Mizell, Jared Mizell and JimBob Adams. Honorary Pallbearers will be Randy Harper, Ed Harper, Dwayne Dodson, Doc Holliday, David Gunter, Stuart Traylor, Phil Jones, Randy Roan and Robert Walker.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Montgomery County Fair Association Scholarship Fund “In Memory of R.L. Dodson”.
