Ray S. Cannefax

Ray S. Cannefax Jr., 92, passed away peacefully in Conroe, Texas on Sunday, September 6, 2015. Born on July 19, 1923 in Brownwood, Texas, Ray attended school in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in WWII, seeing action in Europe. Returning to Abilene after the war, Ray married the former Juancy Hamric in 1946, and they were married until her death in 1988. Ray served as the manager and part-owner of the camera and photography shop, Camera, Inc., in downtown Abilene for over 39 years before retiring in 1985. He was a long-time member and past president of the Downtown Rotary Club and also a member of the First Baptist Church of Abilene. After retiring, Ray remained active, becoming an accomplished woodworker in the shop in his backyard that he and Juancy built by hand. Ray was also preceded in death by his long-time companion, Marilyn Schulz, in 2006. He continued to live in Abilene until moving to Conroe to be nearer family in 2009. Survivors include his daughter Sheri Benton and her husband Steve of Winnie, Texas, and son, Terry Cannefax and his wife Peggy of San Antonio, Texas, along with six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held in Abilene on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in Elmwood Memorial Park directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.