Ray Alton Looney

Ray Alton Looney of Gonzales, Texas went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 24 at Gonzales Memorial Hospital following complications from his ongoing dementia. Ray was 87.

Ray was the first born to parents Fountain and Faye Fikes Looney on Sept. 21, 1931 in Marlin, Texas.

He grew up in Falls County, Texas attending Rosebud High School where he met his future wife, Virgie Killen. In 1950 they married and remained so until her death in 2009.

In addition to his parents’ and wife’s deaths, he was preceded by his only brother, Thomas Roy Looney in 2008.

Ray spent a lifetime as a self-employed entrepreneur; first with “Ray Looney Installation Service” in the late 1950s and 1960s in Temple, Texas, later as owner/operator of “Plants and Things” on Highway 317 outside Belton, Texas, and finally as proprietor of “Looney Litter” in Gonzales, Texas where the community knew his face, if not the man due to his 12-ft tall portrait on his business sign on Highway 183 between Gonzales and Luling, Texas.

Ray was a lifelong Mason originally joining the Knob Creek Temple Lodge #401 in Temple, Texas. And the Fikes and Looney clans knew him as “one mean 42 player”.

Ray is survived by his daughter, Lynne Looney, granddaughter Laura and two great grandchildren, all of Crossville, Tennessee.

He is also survived by his partner and dear friend, Barbara Blanchard of Gonzales, Texas.

Ray will be cremated in a private ceremony. A memorial service officiated by Kenneth Hyden of Gonzales, Texas will be announced at a later date in May.

The family is grateful for the condolences but declines flowers. Contributions can be made to the “Prayer Shawl Ministry” of the First United Methodist Church at 426 St. Paul Street, Gonzales, Texas 78629.