Obituary for James "Jim" Rayburn

Funeral Mass for James “Jim” Rayburn, 71, of Tyler will be held on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Church at 18221 FM 2493 in Flint with the Very Rev. James Rowland officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. 

Mr. Rayburn passed away at home on Monday, November 27, 2023. He was born October 12, 1952, in Amarillo, Texas. He attended public schools in Amarillo, graduating from Tascosa High School in 1971. He attended college at West Texas State University and the University of Houston. He obtained his pharmacist license in 1976. During his career as a pharmacist, he worked for various retail pharmacies, the J.O. Wyatt Clinic in Amarillo, and owned and operated his own drug store in Amarillo. However, Jim’s true passion was music. Throughout his life he played in several local bands in Amarillo, including Vic Fontana and the Automatics. He was also involved with leading worship for the Walk to Emmaus and the Kairos Prison Ministry as well as serving on the worship team at local churches in Amarillo. 

In 2012, he and his wife Sandy moved to Tyler, Texas to enjoy a complete change of scenery from the flat, dry Panhandle of Texas. After his initial diagnosis and treatment of cancer in 2012, Jim and his wife resolved to make the most of life. Since that time, they attended over forty concerts (traveling as far as Toronto, Canada to see Coldplay), taken several road trips, went on ten cruises, two pilgrimages and attended the Oberammergau Passion Play. It was during one of these trips when they stopped into The Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey, Jim made the decision to become Catholic. He loved the fact that no matter where he was in the world, he could attend Mass with his brothers and sisters in Christ and know that even though the language might be different the celebration of the Eucharist was the same. 

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John & Hazel Rayburn, his uncle, David Rayburn and wife Marilyn, his uncle, Larry Minx and his grandson, Isaiah Varner. He is survived by his wife, Sandy; his daughter, Audrey and husband John Navarro; his daughter, Lindsay and husband Anthony Ortiz; his daughter, Carly and husband Aaron Varner; his grandchildren, Claudia Navarro, Evie Navarro, Destiny McCollum, A.J. Ortiz, Luke Varner, Aaliyah Varner; and great-grandson, Monty McCollum. He is also survived by his brother, Steve Rayburn and wife Jan; his brother, John Rayburn and wife Shelley; as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Rosary followed by visitation is scheduled from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The St. Mary Magdalene Building Fund, 18221 FM 2493, Flint, TX 75762 or by visiting https://catholicflint.org/building-fund.

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