Clarence Rayburn (C. Ray) McCurley, 57, of Vidor, TX passed away on Tuesday January 21, 2025 at his home in Vidor. C. Ray was born in Pasadena, TX on April 07, 1967 to Alton Wayne and Martha Jean McCurley. They lived in Tyler when C. Ray was a young child and eventually moved to Vidor where he attended school and began a career in EMS and firefighting. C. Ray joined the Vidor Volunteer Fire Dept as a Junior Explorer and as soon as he turned 18 became a volunteer fire fighter. He obtained his EMT Basic Certification and later his EMT Paramedic Certification. He worked at Orange County EMS for several years and was a shift supervisor when he left there to work for other EMS companies in the Golden Triangle area and Liberty County. While working as an EMT and Paramedic C. Ray continued to volunteer with the Vidor Fire Dept until 2004 when a back injury ended his EMS and Fire careers. C. Ray enjoyed helping others and passing on his knowledge and experiences to those that he worked and volunteered with.
C. Ray met Keri while working at Orange County EMS and they were married in August of 1990 and have raised 4 children together. Keri and C. Ray also spent 5½ years, from May of 2015 to October of 2020, at Central Texas Children’s Home near Austin and have several children from their time there that still call them Mom and Dad and stay in touch with them.
C. Ray was a member of the Vidor Church of Christ and was passionate about serving the Lord.
C. Ray is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William “Bill” McCurley.
C. Ray is survived by his wife, Keri, sons Robert McCurley and wife Shelby of Buna, Justin Payne and wife Myranda of Woodville, Cory Ray McCurley of Vidor and daughter Tiyana McCurley of Vidor, a sister, Mary “Susie” Richard of Lumberton and a brother, Mark Potter of Tyler. C. Ray was blessed with several grandchildren: McKenzie, Addison, Keaton, Jayce, Easton, Jaxsyn, and Hazel Jo, Preston, Kayden, and Harley and numerous nephews and nieces!
In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to the Vidor church of Christ on Interstate 10 in Vidor, TX, the Leukemia Research Foundation or your local animal shelter.
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