Raymond C. Donnelly, 92 years, 2 months, and 7 days old, passed away on April 22, 2022 at his home with his family by his side .
Raymond was born February 15, 1930 in Rensselaer, Indiana to George and Edith (Collins) Donnelly.
Ray grew up on a farm during the depression, as a young man he realized there wasn’t much of a future in that so he joined the Army on August 13, 1948.
Ray met Billye Selvidge in Oklahoma when he was stationed at Fort Sill. They married in 1951. To this union they had five children.
Ray had a very successful career as a military officer attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. Ray was in Korea and Vietnam. His posting were in Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alaska and Germany. Ray said his best assignment was in Kitigzen, Germany. Ray retired from the Army in May 1970 after 22 years.
Ray and Billye bought a farm in Ava and moved their family there. Ray raised cattle and worked the farm on a John Deere tractor.
Ray and Billye traveled often after retirement, going to Canada, Ireland, and around the USA as well as visiting their two sons and families.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Billye and his two daughters, Sherian and Raeliene.
Ray is survived by his daughter Karian and husand, Frederick Dechow, son Shaun and wife Kathi, son Charlie, grandchildren Van, Chris (wife Tammie), Stephanie (husband Jason), Matthew, Angela, Shannon, Bridget, Amanda, Ben, Patrick, Joey, Embet, Kevin, great-grandchildren Kimberly, Christopher, Alison, Megan, McKenzie, Kale, Trent, Tyler, Audrey, and great- great-granddaughters Riley, Aria and Ellie (born on Ray’s 89th birthday).
Memorial Mass services for Raymond will be Friday, May 6, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ava, MO with Father Leo Arockiasamy officiating. Military Honors will be Friday, May 6th at 2:00 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO. His visitation will be Thursday, May 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO. Family requests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
