Ray Solis, 73, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, March 31, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at his home. He was born on September 17, 1948, in Raymondville, Texas to Reynaldo Solis and Eloisa Castillo Solis.
Ray was a lifetime member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Raymondville and served as an altar boy for many years. Later, he was the Catholic Youth Director. In 1986, he started the first Knights of Columbus Council No. 9283. He is a 4th Degree Knight and was elected Grand Knight three times and Deputy Grand Knight for a second time in a row, even as he battled cancer. Ray was also a member of the Willacy County Lions Club and held many offices.
Ray was an outstanding athlete at Raymondville High School and lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He was named All District in all those sports. In 1966, when he was a junior, he was a member of the Raymondville Bearkats that won the District Title for the first time in 35 years. He was selected to the All-Valley Football Team as tight end. He graduated from Raymondville High School and attended Sul Ross University on a football scholarship and an injury forced him to end his college football career. He graduated from Pan American University and earned his master’s from Texas A&M Kingsville. His first coaching job was at Donna High School as Assistant Football and Head Track Coach and also coached football at PSJA. In 1990, he shared a co-championship with Edcouch-Elsa. In 1999, he was named coach of the All-Valley Millennium Football Team. His greatest accomplishments were coaching two back-to-back undefeated district championship seasons at Raymondville High School in 1986 and 1987, setting a high school record. He was named Coach of the Year three times in his career.
As school board member, he served two terms and was President of the school board. One of his greatest accomplishments was fighting really hard to get a stadium built to replace old dilapidated one.
He retired from coaching and went into administration and served as Raymondville Assistant High School Principal, Middle School Principal, and Facilitator. He also worked at San Benito High School, Miller Jordan Middle School, and Riverside Middle School. He came out of retirement to work for Raymondville one more time as Assistant Middle School Principal and finally retired.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years (May 2022), Doris Cavazos Solis, son, Danny Ray Solis, daughter, Lucy (Brian) Sell, brother, David Solis, and grandchildren, Anissa Marie Solis, Matthew Alexander Solis, Luke William Sell, and Lily Tarina Sell. He is preceded by his parents, Reynaldo Solis and Eloisa Castillo Solis.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with a holy rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at Good Shepherd Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Services will conclude after the mass.
Honored to serve as pallbearers will be the Knights of Columbus.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the caring hands of Good Shepherd Funeral Home, 1157 W. Hidalgo Ave., Raymondville, TX 78580.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Ray Solis, please visit our floral store.