Rayburn Felts

Rayburn Lee "Ray" Felts, a resident of the Hickory Withe Community and retired riverboat captain died Friday morning, September 21, 2007 at the Methodist North Hospital in Memphis. He was 74 years of age.

Funeral services for Mr. Felts were conducted at 11 A.M. Monday, September 24th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Eddie Little, Pastor of the Hickory Withe First Baptist Church officiating. Interment followed in the Memory Hill Gardens Cemetery on Germantown Parkway. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home-West Chapel.

A native of Shelby County, Mr. Felts was born June 1, 1933, the son of the late Simon Lee Felts and the late Ethel Frayser Felts. He was educated in the Shelby County Public School system and had been employed by the riverboat industry for most of his life, beginning as a deckhand and retiring as a riverboat captain. He was employed by Waterways Marine for 20 years, and his longtime association with the river permitted him to be a part of the Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas, White, Tennessee Rivers and Gulf of Mexico area.

Mr. Felts retired to Fayette County in later years and was a member of the Hickory Withe First Baptist Church. He was an avid fisherman and was also a beekeeper. He enjoyed traveling and a trip to Israel and the Holy Land after retirement was a highlight in his life. He had been a faithful Christian for the past 30 years and enjoyed special times with his family and grandchildren.

Survivors of Mr. Felts include two daughters, Rene Breyton and Tammy Easterling, both of Ellijay, GA; four sons, Michael L. Felts (Judy) of Franklin, TN, Stephen R. Felts (Danika) of Columbia, TN, Jonathan M. Felts (Karen) of Richardson, TX and Ray L. Felts, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia; two sisters, Joann Trott and Mary Buxton of Bartlett; one brother, James Felts of Arlington, TN; twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers included friends and family members.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church of Hickory Withe, 17675 Hwy. 196, Eads, TN 38028   (901) 465-8043.