Raymond Irvin Huckabee

Raymond Irvin Huckabee, of Kosse, passed away at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at age 85.

Mr. Huckabee will be lying in state at Groesbeck Funeral Home, where friends may view and sign the register book throughout the day on Friday and Saturday (8:00 am - 5:00 pm).

Visitation with the family will be held from 1:30 - 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at First United Methodist Church of Kosse. Funeral services will follow at 3:00 pm with Reverend Dr. Rita Sims officiating, along with Reverend Bill Laubenberg. Burial will be in Ebenezer Cemetery.

Raymond was born March 3, 1935 in Hope, Arkansas to Irvin and Mabel (Weisenberger) Huckabee. He was the oldest of three siblings. In 1953 he graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Fae Wren.

After graduation, he went to work for Foxsboro Instrument in Houston, and later for Petro-Tex Chemical as an instrumentation man. After that, Jean and Raymond opened their own business, J & R Services, where he refurbished Corvettes and high performance engines for racing enthusiasts.

Raymond channeled his love for all things horse-powered into building and racing dragsters. In 1959, he won the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Championship for his class. He continued to follow and enjoy all types of racing throughout his life.

In 1969, Jean & Raymond and their two girls, moved from the big city to their ranch in Kosse. There, Raymond was a farmer, rancher, equipment operator and mechanic. When it got hard to make a living, he got into the trucking business and became an owner/operator driving both long and short hauls. Later in life, when many would be thinking of retirement, he instead became a very successful dealer for CPS, CTS, and then Armorlite construction trailers, selling these for over 20 years. Raymond was straightforward and fair in his business dealings and known by others as a very honest, hardworking man that always tried to do right by people.

Known affectionately as "Gramps" to his four grandchildren, he was extremely proud of them all and their accomplishments.

Raymond loved his ranch, and he was very proud of all the hard work he and his family put into converting the land from a rough, undeveloped state into the landscaped pastures it is today. He was very pleased that his family will continue to reside on and care for his land and cattle. He loved the pasture, loved working on the land, loved his business, and loved his family.

Raymond is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Jean Wren Huckabee of Kosse; daughter Dr. Peggy Huckabee Coffer and husband Kendell of Spring and Kosse; daughter Reda Huckabee Kay and husband Doug of Granbury; grandchildren Kristin Kay Brown and husband Eric currently serving in the US Peace Corps in Colombia, South America; Dr. Brice Coffer and wife Megan of Raleigh, NC; Captain Marshall Kay USAF of Fort Walton Beach, FL; and Shannon Coffer, BSN RN of Fort Worth; sister-in-laws Eileen Huckabee of Cypress and Nancy Browning of Pearland and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Dolores Allen, and brother Darwin Huckabee.

Pallbearers are Kendell Coffer, Doug Kay, Brice Coffer, Marshall Kay, Eric Brown, and Ronny Huckabee.  Honorary pallbearers are Benny Smith, James Railsback, Ed Fraley, Virgil Bingham, James Scott, Chris Turner, Eddie Christiansen and Allen Long.