Raymond Campbell III

Memorials: The Campbell family suggests memorials may be made to Dallas Scottish Rite, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219.

Raymond Campbell, III, always known to his family as "Skip," was born June 4, 1948 in Dallas, the first child of Ruth Carroll Campbell and Raymond Campbell, Jr.

A descendant of Dallas County and Texas pioneers, Ray became a storyteller at least partially because of the influence of his grandmother Lorena Nash Campbell who told him stories of her large Dallas family and early Dallas. He knew of his Campbell ancestors' role in the Texas Revolution from his grandfather Raymond Campbell. He was known to wear his Campbell family tartan kilt upon occasion. Ray was creative because his mother was. He admired greatly his father Raymond, a Dallas business leader whose cheerfulness and devotion to family he emulated and who died unexpectedly when Ray was just 22.

Ray graduated from Highland Park High School in 1966. He was a 1970 graduate of Dallas Baptist College where he majored in drama and became longtime professor Rosemary Rumbley's favorite student. Theirs became a lifetime friendship and he performed in many programs she organized. In his college years he served in the National Guard. He appeared in numerous Dallas area stage productions and for many years performed his own skits and monologues for Dallas audiences.

In 1972, Ray married Cynthia Lynne Root. In the early 1970s he worked for KERA television. He and Cindy and their family moved to Greenville in 1983 where he managed and brought on air Channel 18 in Cumby, Texas. He was the kind of dad who organized time to spend with each of his children -- "special days" when just the two of Ray and Dana, Ray IV, Tom or Ben would do something on their own with him.

Ray's successful career included his work at Eastfield College and other public relations endeavors. He worked as the Public Information Director for the Dallas Community College District for over 20 years.

In the summer of 2001, Ray married Sarah Cooper Reavis. Together they created a wonderful home where their combined families of 7 children and 17 grandchildren celebrated holidays together. Ray introduced the grandchildren to his jukebox, kazoos, chocolate milk, movies and endless stories with his own dramatic sounds and voices. He and Sarah also treated kids and grandkids to time with them at their summer home in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado. Some of them helped him on his farm in Central Texas where he had cows and Texas Longhorns.

Ray Campbell's life was rooted in family, both those who came before and after. He was a personality, a character whom you never forgot. He instilled in his descendants a love of family and, as one wrote, "the importance of being silly."

Ray will be buried in Dallas' historic Greenwood Cemetery near his Nash family forebears who came to Texas in 1854.

Survivors: wife, Sarah Cooper Campbell; daughter, Dana Campbell Goza and husband, David; sons Ray Campbell, IV and wife Mika, Tom Campbell, and Ben Campbell and wife Elizabeth; stepsons, Ben Reavis and wife Kristi, Logan Reavis and wife Meg, and Cullen Reavis and wife Sara; grandchildren Nate, Alex, Will and Anna Goza; Mia and Titus Campbell; Lois Kate and Nash Michael Campbell; and Meg, Dot, and Caroline Campbell; step-grandchildren, Emily, Owen, Hailey, Audrey, Ellie and Carter Reavis; sister, Laura Campbell Bolding and husband Bill; aunt, Mary Anne Campbell Barker; and cousins, Suzanne Barker Roberts and Libby Barker Willis and husband Doyle.