Ray Barton Criswell Sr.

Ray Barton Criswell, 93, passed away Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at his home. Visitation will be Friday, September 26, 2014, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. A Memorial Service is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 27 at First Baptist Church, Bryan. Ray was born January 31, 1921 to Thomas Turner Criswell and Mary Amelia McKinley in Marlin, TX. He was a longtime resident of Bryan. He started Texas A&M College in 1939, but left for WWII and joined the U.S. Navy where he served as a Navy flight instructor. He met Elmyra Merrill on a blind date in Andalusia, Alabama and they were married January 27, 1945. After the war, he returned to Texas A&M to complete his degree and started his business, Ray Criswell Wholesale Company, out of the trunk of his car. Later he opened his first business location in downtown Bryan. After many years, he moved the company to the current location on South College in Bryan and eventually changed the name to Ray Criswell Distributing Company. Ray was very active in community and civic organizations. He enjoyed the friendships of the CRS Club at Shipley Donuts. He served on the board for The Salvation Army, was a founding member of the Bryan Breakfast Lions Club where he recently received his 60 year service pen. He served as Club President and later District Governor for Lions Club International. He was also a very active member of First Baptist Church Bryan serving in the Business Men’s Bible Class for 50 years. After the untimely death of Elmyra, he married Jeanne Nevill of Bryan in 1970. They too shared a wonderful life together until her sudden illness and passing in 1994. Once again Ray was blessed with another lovely wife, Gerry Chandler of Bryan. Ray always had a positive outlook on life and never let any hardships keep him down. He was blessed with a wonderful blended family. His family and friends will never forget his unconditional love, selfless generosity and great humor. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Elmyra Merrill Criswell, his second wife, Jeanne Honeycutt Nevill Criswell; his brothers, Travis T. Criswell, John C. Criswell, Glenn Rice Criswell and sisters, Mary Ruth Criswell and Amelia Myrtlene Criswell Tate. He is survived by his wife Gerry Chandler Criswell; sons and daughters, Ray, Jr and Maureen Criswell of Montgomery, TX, Carolyn and Richard Baur, Marilyn Franer, Cathy and Mark Conlee, Melissa and Jeff Clary, Mike and Dianne Chandler, and Don Chandler and Kathy Dicharo all of Bryan; brother Thomas M. Criswell of Marlin, TX; sisters-in-law Winifred Criswell of Hillsboro, TX and Lena Criswell of Albuquerque, NM; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Bart Criswell, Chris Baur, Heath Franer, Don Conlee; Brock DeWald and

J. T. Wells, Jr. The family extends special thanks to the staff of Carriage Inn-Bryan, Family Home Health Hospice and the many caregivers who were so helpful in caring for our dad. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to The Ray Criswell Scholarship Fund Business Men’s Bible Class First Baptist Church Bryan (3100 Cambridge Dr., Bryan, TX 77802), Texas Lions Camp (www.lionscamp.com), The Salvation Army (2506 Cavitt Ave., Bryan, TX 77801), Stillcreek Ranch (6055 Hearne Road, Bryan, TX 77808), or to the charity of your choice.