PAWNEE ROCK — Ray Navarro, 84, passed away January 29, 2019 at his home in Pawnee Rock. 

He was born April 14, 1934, in Waco, Texas to Rozario and Yanacia (Castro) Navarro. He married Betty Kelly, Sept. 7, 1963, at Oak Grove, Louisiana. She passed away Sept. 8, 1993.

A lifetime Pawnee Rock resident, he was a driller and roughneck in the oilfield, having worked for Mallard Drilling until he retired in 1997. He loved to fish, garden, cook and tinkered with everything. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was a self-taught man who loved to teach everyone what he could. He did so with great patience and passion. 

Survivors include, four sons, Kelly Cozby and wife Suzi, Wasilla, Alaska; Roy Cooper and wife Madalyn, Bangor, Maine; Carroll Cooper, Arkansas and Johnny Gulley, Oak Grove, Louisiana; three daughters, Rayetta Crist and husband Ed, Great Bend; Karen Hoffman,  Wasilla, Alaska; and Kathy Wilson and husband Carlton, Deer Park, Texas; 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty Navarro; a grandson, Trevis Smith; six brothers and six sisters. 

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home. Graveside Service and Interment will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, with Pastor Curt Reinhardt presiding at the Pawnee Rock Cemetery, Pawnee Rock. Memorials are suggested to Kindred Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 30, 2019