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  • RAY MORGAN FESSLER

RAY MORGAN FESSLER

Ray Morgan Fessler was born on Feb. 2, 1945, in Mexia, to Raymond C. Fessler and Mildred Morgan Fessler. He died Dec. 21, 2021, in Tyler, after suffering a massive stroke.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Palmer Fessler of Marshall. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Pat Carona (Michael); five daughters and their families, Genny Lawson of Mexia, Jessie Motley (Tommy) of San Angelo, Lisa Montgomery (Matt) of Dallas, Jodie Maki (Erik) of Mexia, and Amanda Montgomery (Garrett) of Lockhart; grandchildren, Brady Walker (Stephanie), Blake Walker (Samantha ), Kori and Kinley Staggs, Nolan and Nathan Maki, Ainsley, Palmer, Morgan, Sydney, and Addison Montgomery. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, two nieces, several cousins and four aunts.

He attended schools in Marshall, Dallas and Fort Worth and was a member of the Marshall High School Class of 1963. Following high school, he worked in New Orleans and attended Navarro Junior College before joining the United States Air Force, serving in Southeast Asia. He completed his service in Austin where he worked on Air Force One during the Lyndon Baines Johnson presidency.

Ray was fiercely independent, and could do anything and everything, except retire. He was self-employed for more than 30 years, often owning and operating multiple businesses at one time. After initially retiring, he purchased Neely’s Brown Pig. Once he sold the building, he again came out of retirement to operate a food trailer continuing the Neely’s Brown Pig tradition. He enjoyed horses, hunting, cooking, working with clay, and painting.

He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Marshall where he served as a deacon and a member of the Hospitality Committee providing meals for the members and the Marshall community.

Pallbearers are Mike Bradbury, Joe Martino, Don Montgomery, Royce Plemmons, Jeff Seal, and Owen Smith. Honorary pall bearers are Charles Brooks, Mike Carona, Larry Ford, Justin and Jared Seal.

A special thank-you goes to the medical personnel in Marshall and Tyler.

Services for Mr. Fessler included visitation at Cumberland Presbyterian Church from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26; service at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at the church, and a graveside service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at College Station Cemetery.

Officiants were the Rev. William R. Rustenhaven III and D.W. McLendon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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Mexia News

214 N. Railroad

Mexia, TX 76667

(254) 562-2868

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