Raymond O'Connell, 80, died Wednesday, August 15, 2007. He was born January 3, 1927 in Matagorda County to the late Bouldin "Doc" and Mildred Bickham O'Connell. Ray served in the US Army during WW-II and was stationed in Germany.

On August 14, 1953 Ray married JoAnn Moore. They celebrated their 54th year of marriage on Tuesday. After returning from the war, Ray worked at the Bay City Post Office for 33 years. In 1986, he was elected Matagorda County Justice of the Peace. He was re-elected three times and served for over 12 years.

Ray was a charter member of the First United Methodist Church of Van Vleck. He was a Lifetime Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a member or the American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed raising cattle, riding horses, and John Wayne movies.

Ray and JoAnn have lived in Van Vleck since they married and have raised their family there. Ray is survived by his wife, his daughter and her husband, Nancy and Bill Brown; his son and his wife, Pat and Lisa O'Connell; his daughter Eileen O' Connell; his daughter and her husband Kathleen and Ken Ballinger; four grandchildren Lindsay, Kara, Christopher, and Emily; two sisters Dorothy Stafford and Nancy Bridgwater. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Burt and nephews H. A. Stafford, III and John Stafford.

The Family will receive visitors from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Friday at the Funeral Home. A Funeral service will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, August 18, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church in Van Vleck with Rev. Brian Krumnow officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck. Pallbearers will be Paul Bickham, Billy Bickham, Steven Whiddon, Donnie O'Connell, David Bridgwater, Mike O'Connell and Dan O'Connell. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Van Vleck.