Ray George Petty

Ray was born to Ray and Anna Louise in Houston, Texas on August 7, 1942. He graduated from Milby High School in 1961 and received a Bachelors in Business from TCU in 1965. He married Merle Montgomery, also a Milby High School graduate, later in life, and they enjoyed each other for many years living in Houston, Texas throughout their 29 year marriage.

Ray is survived by his wife, Merle. He was preceded in death by his father, Ray, his step-father, Gordon, and his mother, Anna Louise.

Ray helped his family with a local grocery store after college, leading up to him ultimately managing all the activities of this difficult business. In this entrepreneurial spirit, Ray developed 2 real estate businesses, RGP Investments and MaxRay Corporation, developing and managing various commercial properties. Ray was an excellent athlete and participated in several 2-man Star sailboat regattas in his early years leading up to actually competing in the trials for the 1968 Summer Olympics. He also was very generous with his time and talent, and was one of the original founding members of the Houston Safari Club in 1972, of which he ultimately was the President in 1976-77, and served many consecutive years as Treasurer and co-chaired the 1987 HSC Annual convention. In addition, he served several years as the Chair of the convention’s gun donations, and acted as the HSC legislative and hunter’s rights liaison working closely with numerous congressmen, senators and other organizations. At HSC and other organizations, he developed many influential friends and further assisted them through various endeavors, helping many charities and foundations throughout Houston by facilitating donations, such as for the Methodist Hospital system and The Lighthouse of Houston (for the blind), of which Ray was the Chairman of the Board from 1996-98 and a board member for many more helping purchase property and housing for the blind community. He was instrumental in helping the Texas Parks and Wildlife department acquire Mason Mountain and other hunting and conservation areas. He also worked with the Texas Legislature in passing the first concealed carry legislation. From the Petty side, Ray is a ‘Son of the American Revolution’ with a long lineage of great Americans.

Ray was an avid big game hunter and fisherman, taking several trips and safaris all over the world. He holds several record trophies of elephant, greater kudu, impala, polar bear, brown bear, caribou, moose, big horn rams, mule deer and many others, but his greatest love was fly fishing the streams of Alaska for various trout, of which both he and Merle did together.

Ray will be dearly missed by many and made friends with all those he touched.

A Visitation, Rosary and Catholic Mass are scheduled for 9AM Friday, October 2, 2026 at St. Dominic’s Village chapel. The family requests that donations be made to Houston Safari Club (713-623-8844); The Lighthouse of Houston(713-284-8490); Methodist Hospital foundation(832-667-5801); or St. Dominic’s Village (713-741-8730) in memoriam of Ray.

St. Dominic’s Village

2401 Holcombe Blvd

Houston, TX 77021