Raymond Allen Riney, 85, of Denton passed away peacefully on August 20, 2021, at his home.  Throughout his career as a truck driver, Raymond logged over 4.5 million miles without an accident or a traffic violation.  Raymond knew the roads of Texas, and a path to South Dakota. Whenever you rode with Raymond Riney you knew you were with a skilled and safe driver. Some people just make us feel safe. An eldest brother, loving husband, father of three, beloved grandfather and great grandfather, Raymond was a model of patience and calm in person and behind the wheel.  Raymond was a friend to many and a husband and father that his family could count on.  He was quick to help friends or family.

Raymond Allen Riney was born on August 18, 1936, the first son of Joe Raymond and Hazel (Tritt) Riney.  They lived on a dairy farm in rural Denton near Riney Road.  He went to school in Denton and worked on the dairy farm.  Raymond married Kay Lynn Shillingstad on October 15, 1968, in Love County, Oklahoma.  They moved to Argyle where they raised their three children, Jodi Rae, Raymond "Allen", Jr., and Perry Glen.

In the late 1950's, Raymond started driving a truck.  He drove for Whitson's Food, then for Globe Print, delivering a newsprint for the Amarillo newspaper. He started with Cummins Sales and Service in 1973.  He drove over 2100 miles a week, leaving every Sunday evening and returning on Thursdays.  When that big Cummins truck rolled up on Thursdays, the kids would run out to the road to meet him.  Some Friday mornings in the summer Raymond would take the truck back to work, and the kids would tag along. He would drop them off at Six Flags to let them ride rides and pick them up later.  When Jodi was a toddler, he hauled her around everywhere.  She would hide behind her dad's leg with a sack of candy that they stopped to buy.  He was always the dad and later the Papa who let the kids or grandkids pick any candy they wanted at the store.  As Raymond would make his way to relax in the recliner, Perry would love to crawl up in his lap and get his back scratched from his Dad.  Even the grandkids would get a good back scratch from Papa.

He devoted the time he had on his days off to his family.  He took Kay and the kids to dinner most Friday nights, (Smokehouse was the family favorite), roped and fished on Saturdays, and enjoyed Kay's cooking, especially Chicken and Dumplings, on Sundays. Raymond was handy with vehicles and could either fix or have his dear friend Larry help him fix whatever needed fixing.

Raymond roped and had a horse for most of his adult life.  The family spent many nights down at the Kowbell Rodeo in Mansfield, Texas.  He passed on his love of roping to his son Allen who also became a roper.  Raymond was always neat and tidy. He was starched and dressed western.  When he was growing up, he would buy red socks which didn't show in boots, to keep his younger brothers from swiping his socks.

Raymond enjoyed fishing for largemouth bass with his brothers Bud and Danny.  Kay would go with him on occasion.  He would get her a fishing license and put her weight as 120 pounds. Who wouldn't love that man?  Raymond not only loved Kay, but he helped and tolerated her family, who lived with them at times, or needed help moving.  He traveled all week for work, and during holidays he'd jump in a Suburban with Kay, Karen, his three kids and Glen Paul and headed north to South Dakota. There, they'd stay at the farm where Kay's parents grew to know and love him for the strength of his character and the patience, he exhibited with everyone he encountered.

Raymond's southern drawl and constant cigar caused many of Kay's family to say…."What did he say?"  Raymond was never a fan of cold weather or icy roads, and we may even have many photos of Raymond shivering or memories of being stuck in snowbanks.  But he always came back!  Some things like family are more important than weather discomforts.

Raymond liked to smoke brisket in his cooker and was part of many cook-offs in Denton County.  He enjoyed the social aspect as much as the cooking, but he won awards for his tasty brisket.  He loved fairs. Kay remembers a time at the Texas State Fair when Bud and Charlotte and Kay and Raymond stopped at every stand that sold nachos because they were new and delicious.  Raymond loved fair food and midway games. He won so many stuffed animals that they had to take them to the car then go back and win more.

Raymond had many life-long friends that could always count on him when they needed a hand.  He was a gardener, and his northern family always looked forward to ripe garden tomatoes, beans, and onions that he would bring up in early July.  He canned string beans, and after he retired in 2010, he became quite a cook.  He always had supper ready for Kay when she came home from work.

During his retirement he was a part of a retired social club. Kay called it Boy Scout Camp.  It started with three retirees gathered in a pasture by Hog's Holler and grew to a group of more that forty gentlemen who would get together to reminisce and grill up something.  One of the wives would send desserts. Raymond was especially fond of the banana pudding.  The Cowboy Church in Ponder became a Sunday tradition for Raymond.  He would even take Ryan along.  Ryan enjoyed the fellowship and especially the coffee and donuts!

The grandkids and great grandkids were very important to Raymond. Grant and Blake made many trips with Papa and Grandma up north to South Dakota. In later years, Papa never missed a Grandparents' Day, and he was always happy to pick up Reid and Ryan from school. The best part was the Golden Chick meal he had waiting for them in the truck!  He was always at the grandkid's games, sitting in his chair watching for the next big play or scored run!

Raymond was loved while here and will be deeply missed by those whose lives he touched.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ray and Hazel Riney, his brothers Johnnie "Bud" and Don Riney.  He is survived by his wife Kay of Denton, daughter Jodi Parker and husband Gary of Sanger, sons Allen Riney and wife Erica of Pilot Point and Perry Riney of Dallas, sister Janice Meeker and husband Floyd of Denton, brother Danny Riney and wife Pam of Sanger, grandchildren, Grant and Blake Wilson and Reid and Ryan Riney, and great grandchildren, Pepper, ParsLee and Sage Wilson.