Rayburn, Jerry 

Services for Jerry Rayburn, 59, of Lake Cherokee, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, 
September 16, 2006, at Trinity Baptist Church in Lakeport, with Dr. Gary Orr 
officiating. Interment will follow in Rosewood Park Cemetery. Mr. Rayburn died 
Wednesday morning, September 13, 2006, at Good Shepherd Medical Center after 
a brief illness. Jerry was born November 19, 1946, to Steve and Kathryn Rayburn. 
He lived in Beaumont for 47 years, before moving to the Longview area in 1990. 
Jerry was self employed for a few years, owning several businesses. He graduated 
from high school in Beaumont and attended Lamar University. For the last 10 years, 
he served as director of physical plant operations for Kilgore College. Jerry was 
active in his community and served on the board of directors for Cherokee Water Co. 
of Lake Cherokee. He proudly served his country as a U.S. Marine during the Vietnam 
War, and no man could have loved his flag more. Mr. Rayburn joined the U.S. Marines 
in 1966 and died as a U.S. Marine on September 13, 2006. Jerry met his loving wife, 
Rhonda, and they were married in 1995. Jerry was a devoted, caring, and loving 
husband, father, and grandfather. Jerry and Rhonda were members of Trinity Baptist 
Church. Jerry enjoyed life and living it. He enjoyed doing for others. Mr. Rayburn 
was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed working as much as playing. He was an excellent 
boss, who truly cared for his employees. Mr. Rayburn was a caring and compassionate 
man. Above all else, he was a man of principles and conviction, and had the courage 
to stand up to what he believed and knew to be right. Jerry's worst fear was to 
have lived his life and never made a difference. " He needed not fear that at all." 
Jerry was a man who smiled even through bad times. He laughed at death because he 
knew it simply was a bump in the road to heaven. Jerry was preceded in death by his
 parents, Steve and Kathryn Rayburn. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda of Lake 
Cherokee; brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Teri Rayburn of Vidor; 
sister-in-law, Wanda Vercher of Pineville, La.; two sons and daughter-in-law, Chase 
and Debbie Rayburn, and Matthew Rayburn of Virginia; daughter, Charisa Rayburn of 
Arkansas; and stepsons and daughter-in-law, Clay and Jenny Richards, and Vince 
Richards. He loved all his grandchildren, Amanda, Dallas, Dalton, Dallen, Gracie, 
Dylan, Corey, Nichole, and Tiffany, and his special "little buddy," Cameron Shipp. 
These were all the lights of his life. He is also survived by his special friends, 
Kenny and Ola Shipp. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 9/15/2006.