Ray H. Baucom, 85

Ray Harry Baucom, 85, passed away in his sleep Jan. 29, 2011, in his home in Stanton.  
Ray was born Feb. 21, 1925, near Randolph. 

He was the son of Roland and Augusta (Krey) Baucom.  He was the fourth out of five children.  Ray farmed during his teenage years and also worked in the Nursery in Shenandoah.  In 1946 he married Berniece Schick and they had five children. They lived in Southwest Iowa all his life farming.  He slowed down to hauling grain, liquid fertilizer and water for four years before he actually retired at the age of 82.  Ray was a member of the Red Oak Eagles for over 35 years and served as a president for one year during that time.  Ray loved playing cards, along with teaching his children to play and grandchildren to play cards and other games as well.  He also enjoyed bowling, bingo, dancing, camping, playing horseshoes, and joking around with all the kids with a huge smile on his face all the time.  He loved to hold down the couch, loving life and being surrounded by his family and friends. He always did things and went together with his wife.  He was a compassionate, loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and uncle and inspiration to his family.  His greatest tributes to all who knew him were his jokes, his laugh and his big smile everyday.
Preceding Ray in death were his parents; brother, Edmond Baucom; sister, Helen Perkins; great grandchildren:  Cheyanne Palmer, Abby Elizabeth Reeve, and Brooklyn Baucom.   
Survivors include his wife Berniece (Schick) Baucom, sister, Dorothy Rorebeck of Shenandoah; brother, Donald Baucom and wife Lola of Creston:  daughters, Linda Davis and husband Richard of Knoxville, Jean Combs and husband Jim of Pacific Junction, Rosa Lee Palmer and husband Eugene of Red Oak and Carla Neemann and husband Ronnie of Shenandoah; son, Steve Baucom and wife Donella of Emerson; 16 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, at Faith Community Church.  Burial will be in the Emerson, Iowa Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the funeral at Faith Community Church.  Memorials are suggested to the family.
Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.