Edmond “Ray” Doreck, “…and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13. He was a longtime resident of Gillette, Texas passed away at his residence on, Friday, May 18, 2012 at 10:35 A.M., at the age of 80 years, 4 months and 10 days.

Ray was born January 8, 1932 to Walter Rudolph and Alice Atkinson Doreck, in Union Leader, Texas. He grew up in the Choate area earning the values and rewards of hard work. He completed up to the middle of 9^th grade and began working on the farm to help support the family. He learned to operate a bulldozer around the age of 17 and worked of most his life in the oil field driving a “Cat”. The term “sick day” was not in Ray’s vocabulary. He pulled many an oil rig to a location, rain or shine, hot or cold, day or night.

Spare time in his younger years was spent racing his greyhounds or horses. He loved to ride and rope and was quite the local cowboy. He taught the older daughters to ride and enjoy horseback riding. Later in life he enjoyed bay fishing and many a redfish was caught with his in-laws the “Rusty Reeses” and “Dutch Stahl’s”. Ray also loved dancing, especially with his “Fraulein”.

He married Pansy Joan Gisler, November 15, 1952 and to this union was born two daughters; Donna Rae and Lois Joann. She preceded him in death, March 18, 1965.

He then married Lois Senf Ray, September 28, 1965 and she brought with her two daughters; Dorlen Dayne and Jodi Sue. Together Ray and Lois created the “Little Ones”, Leslie Ray and Heidi Alice.

Mr. Doreck is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Faye Doreck Stockton. He is survived by his wife of over 46 years, Lois L. Doreck; his son, Leslie Ray Doreck and wife Leslie of Longview, Texas; his daughters, Donna R. Hunt, Joann Lincke and husband James, both of Victoria, Texas, Dorlen Kelly and husband Frank of Port Lavaca, Texas, Jodi Lerma and husband Henry of Austwell, Texas and Heidi Meiers and husband Jay of Port Lavaca, Texas; his brothers, Joe B. Doreck and Wesley Doreck and his sisters Lavern Simmons, Ida Ruth O’Neill and Bea Murdoch. Ray is also survived by his 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held, Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services were held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, May 21, 2012 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Ray Walthall and Pastor Marcus Tankersley, officiating. Interment followed in the Choate Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Leslie Doreck, Troy Doreck, Wayne Stockton, Kenneth Reese, Gary Rauschuber, Colin Rangnow, Corey Doreck, Zachari Meiers, Gary Reese and Gerad Lenhart. Honorary pallbearers were be, Ray’s son-in-laws, Britton Ray grandson, his grandchildren, his great grandchildren, his nephews, Dr. Cook Patton, Dr. William Campbell, Dr. Khiem Vu, Dr. John White, Dale Gordon, Mark Raddicke, Jess Hyatt and Accolade Homecare and Hospice.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Accolade Homecare and Hospice, Yoakum, Texas, the American Heart Association or the Gillette Baptist Church.