Ray Harnist

Raymond Joseph Harnist, 81 of Seymour, passed away on Monday, June 23, 2025 in Seymour.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 1:30 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Seymour. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery under the direction of Archer Funeral Home.

Ray was born on May 25, 1944 in Valparisa, Florida to Raymond and Florence Barbato Harnist, during WWII. While his father served in the war, his mother moved the family to Ashtabula, Ohio where she raised him and his siblings. He joined the U.S. Army on May 12, 1965, serving in Army Intelligence. Ray married Constance Emma Ludwig on August 19, 1967 in Sacramento, California. The couple lived in several places in Northern California, where Ray was a vocational instructor with the California Department of Corrections. Upon retirement, they moved to Seymour to be near their grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Harnist of Seymour; his 6 children, Marnie and Doug Jones of California, Heidi Harnist of Seymour, Erin and Michael Cadena of San Antonio, Ryann Harnist of Seymour, Raymond Garrett Harnist of Seymour and Grant Harnist of Reno, Nevada; a sister, Donna and Terry Beggs of Florida; 16 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Due to length of time between the service and the graveside in Dallas, in lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Rathgeber Hospitality House, 1615 12th St., Wichita Falls, Texas 76301.