Ray Lamar Koenning, age 76, passed away on Tuesday morning, May 9, 2023 at his ranch. He was born on August 11, 1946 at P&S Hospital in Alice, Texas to Anton Louie and Selma Fuhrken Koenning.
He grew up and attended school in Agua Dulce, Texas with his parents and siblings. In his youth, he was an avid athlete and participated in football, basketball, and track. He graduated in 1965 from Agua Dulce High School and went to work for Whataburger of Alice, serving as a manager then to Area Supervisor, and eventually, an Operations Executive
for the Andrews family while spending 5 years in the Army Reserve.
In 1984, he purchased Dairy Burger from Ruben Lassman, Jr. where he opened up for business in August of 1985 at a new location in Alice where it has been a staple in the community for over 4 decades. He had a passion for the Lord, was an ordained deacon at First Baptist Church, taught Sunday School, and served on various church committees over the years. He loved hunting and bay fishing and could be found with family or friends somewhere out in the wild or on the water as often as time allowed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Anton Koenning; mother, Selma Koenning; brothers, Gene Koenning, Donald “Doc” Koenning, Allan Koenning and his sister, Lois Koenning.
He is survived by his sisters, Welma (RV) Grimes, Junell Austin, Delora “Chipper” (Richard) Unterbrink, Gaye (Aaron) Jospeh; nephews, Richard (Shelley) Koenning, Kevin (Rhonda) Koenning, Robert (Krystyn) Pearson, Ken (Abbey) Pearson; nieces, Stacie Scott, Shana Johnson, Wendy (Jeff) Wormser, Denise Koenning Blanchard, and Sophie Joseph; sons, Kelly Ray (Rachel) Koenning, Samuel Ray Koenning, Gavin Ray Koenning, Tony Arellano, and daughter Audi Olvera; grandchildren, Kaley Lucille (Augie) Lopez, Kansas Ray (Virginia) Koenning, Max Arellano, Ronin Olvera and his great grandchildren, Keelyn Lucille Lopez, Kamryn Ray Lopez, Kylee Ann Lopez, Kallen Augustine Lopez, Kanyon Ray Koenning, Chelsea Peterson and Candace Peterson.
A Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM with a Funeral Service to follow at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at The First Baptist Church, 501 E. 2nd St, Alice, Texas 78332. A Private Family Burial will be held at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to The First Baptist Church, 501 East 2nd Street in Alice, Texas 78332.
Arrangements are entrusted to Holmgreen Mortuary, 2061 East Main Street, Alice, Texas.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.HolmgreenMortuaryInc.com and shared via Holmgreen Mortuary Facebook.
