Ray Carrol Hudson

Ray Carrol Hudson, 71, of Abilene, passed away at his home on Sunday, May 2, 2010. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 6 at Crescent Heights Baptist Church, 1902 North Mockingbird Lane. Rev. Butch Pesch and Rev. Price Mathieson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oplin Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Ray was born October 24, 1938, in Lawn, Texas to Orling Hudson and Annie (Guffey) Hudson. He graduated from Lawn High School and attended Texas Tech and McMurry University. Ray worked for the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation from November, 1957 until he retired in August, 1995 as their Right of Way appraiser. He was self employed as a right of way consultant.

November 27, 1957 Ray married Nancy Marie McIntyre in Abilene. They were married for 52 years. Ray and his wife have been active members of Crescent Heights Baptist Church since 1963, where he served as a Deacon. He loved his God, his wife, his children and his grandchildren dearly. Ray enjoyed officiating, hunting, fishing, hard work, helping others, and watching all of his grandchildren's activities.

For 35 years, Ray officiated all levels of Football and Basketball from middle school to college from 1962 until 1997. He served as the Secretary of the Abilene Chapter of the Southwest Football Officials Association for 14 years. He officiated many high school championship games including the 1979 and 1993 class 5A championships. Ray also officiated the 1993 Texas High School Coaches Association All Star Football game. In 1991, he officiated NCAA Division II playoff game. Ray was honored with an honorary lifetime membership in the Southwest Officials Basketball Association and was inducted into the Big Country Hall of Fame in 2009 for his outstanding officiating career.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Voleen Goen, and two brothers, Roy Hudson and J.M. Hudson.

Ray is survived by his wife, Nancy Hudson, of Abilene; one son, Mark Hudson and wife Cheri; one daughter, Carol Lawrence; one sister, Eloise Cheney and husband Lester, all of Abilene; two sisters-in-law, Ann McIntyre and Mary McIntyre, both of Clyde; four grandchildren, Ryan and Madison Hudson, and Shane and Shelby Lawrence, as well as several nieces and nephews.

James Grant, Jimmy Hudson, Sonny Dick, Billy Breed, Don Southall and Robert Briley will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be all of the Southwest Football and Basketball Officials Association members.

Memorials may be made to Crescent Heights Baptist Church, 1902 North Mockingbird Lane, Abilene, TX 79603; or to Sears Methodist Hospice, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, TX 79605.