It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Ray Henry on Oct. 17, 2024,one week shy of his 84th birthday in Austin, surrounded in spirit and in-person by his loving family after his well-researched battle against congestive heart and kidney diseases.
Ray leaves behind his long devoted and joined-at-the-hip wife, Dr. Gail Brown; daughters Keri Warren and husband Joe, of Magnolia, Texas, Amber Lewis and husband Scott, of Bedford, Texas, and Karen Henry, of Mexico; adored grandchildren Dr. Hailey Scholz and husband Erich, of Austin, Grant Warren, of St. Paul, Minn., Charles Bowen and fiancé Liliana Padron, of Austin, and Kurt Warren, of Richmond, Va., Claire Warren, of Los Angeles; his dear sister, Myrna Sartain, of Houston; and niece Janet Sypert and husband Scott, of Katy, Texas; as well as numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, friends, respected past colleagues and tennis partners.
Ray was predeceased by his father, George Henry; mother Juanita Shurbet Henry; nephew Greg Daves; and brother Kenneth Henry.
Born in Floydada, Texas, Ray was an Eagle Scout, representative to Boys’ State, and Co-Captain of the Wellington High School Skyrockets, before heading to West Texas State University to study accounting and becoming a proud member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After college, which he funded with his summer and holiday work as a lineman for Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Ray worked for the City of Amarillo as an accountant before moving in 1967 to the Texas Municipal Retirement System in Austin as Chief Accountant. He started his own consulting business in 1986, and then, after a period with Rudd & Wisdom Consulting Actuaries, Ray joined Texas County and District Retirement Systems (TCDRS) in 1991. Serving TCDRS as Comptroller, then as Deputy Director and finally, Executive Director, Ray retired in 2005 after a dedicated tenure of creating an environment of encouragement, excellence and stability for the organization and retirees of the state.
Ray loved the outdoors,was an avid nature photographer and enjoyed fishing, tennis, road trip adventures with Gail, any and all family activities, the science of grilling, the science of everything and doting on his daughters and grandkids.
Per his wishes, no services will be held, and in lieu of flowers, Ray requested donations be made to Doctors Without Borders.
