Grace Raney's Obituary
Grace Lanell Utzman Raney passed away at Buckner Westminster Place on September 17, 2024 at the age of 97. Grace was born October 17, 1926 at the historically marked Dean Keener Crim home in Kilgore, Texas to William Butler Utzman and Gladys Mae Crim. Descended from multiple Gregg and Rusk County pioneer families, she was the granddaughter of W.D. and Ella Owens Utzman and W.N. and Eudora Culp Crim.
She grew up in Kilgore, Texas and graduated from Kilgore High School and Kilgore College where she was a Rangerette in the 4th line from 1943-1945. She met her husband of 53 years, Kenneth C. Raney of Longview, at Kilgore College and after he returned from service in World War II, they married on January 3, 1947 and moved to Waco where he attended Baylor University. Upon his graduation, they moved back to Kilgore and were active members of the Kilgore community and the First Presbyterian Church. In 1958, she and Kenneth moved to Longview with their new family where she lived for the remainder of her long life. Grace and Kenneth were long time members of the First Presbyterian Church of Longview.
She is survived by her son, Kenneth C. Raney, Jr. (wife Carolyn) of Richardson and daughter Amy Jane Raney of Richardson. She is also survived by grandchildren, Katherine Claire Raney Yancey (husband Brandon), Dr. Kenneth C. Raney, III (wife Eva), and Harrison Colby Rogers (wife Meghan) and great grandchildren Thomas Koonce Yancey, Alexander Davis Yancey, Scarlett Caroline Yancey, Kenneth C. Raney, IV (Carter), Caleb Charles Raney, Olivia Joy Rogers, Eloise Grace Rogers and Isaac Thomas Rogers.
The family will receive visitors Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 5:30-7:30pm at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. Grace will be interred at Rosewood Park Cemetery in Longview next to her husband, Kenneth, after a private family service conducted by Buckner Chaplain, Dr. Rick Webb and Rev. Kendal Land, First Presbyterian Church Longview. Grace’s family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to Grace’s long-time sitter, Ann Riley, whose dedication to Grace was remarkable as well as the entire Buckner Westminster staff that made Grace and her entire family feel at home.
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