Raydell (Gay) O'Neil

Raydell Gay O’Neil, 91, went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on August 31, 2024. She was loved by so many and will truly be missed. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Cedar Creek Baptist Church, 5643 FM 933, Whitney, Texas with Alan Lane officiating. Interment will follow at the O’Neil Family Cemetery on the Flying O Ranch outside of Whitney. A visitation will be held from 6-8 pm, Friday, September 6, 2024, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors, 201 N. Bosque St, Whitney, Texas 76692

Raydell was born on April 30, 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas to parents, Charles Raymond and Agatha Dedell Chilcoat Gay. She graduated from Arlington Heights High School, Fort Worth, Texas, in 1950. She attended Texas Tech University where she met and married her college sweetheart, Ernest Theodore “Ted” O’Neil, Sr. in 1951. Ted finished his Sr. year at Texas Tech and the happy couple moved to Steiner Valley Ranch, Whitney, Texas in 1952. Majoring in English Literature, Raydell earned a Bachelor Degree in Education from Baylor University in August, 1969 and earned her Masters Degree in Education in August of 1975.

Ted and Raydell bought their first home in 1969 in the town of Whitney. After their four children were all in school, Raydell began her teaching career at West ISD. She found a position at Whitney ISD as fast as she could, where she taught 6th Grade and was instrumental in teaching the school’s first computer technology courses, and was an Educational Diagnostician. She was with the Whitney ISD for over 30 years until her retirement in 2000. During Raydell’s teaching years and even into her retirement years, she was active in coaching students in UIL academic competitions. Raydell was awarded the Whitney Chamber of Commerce “Educator of the Year” in 1995. She was a proud and active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution-Fort Graham Chapter and was a long time member of the Hill County Retired Teachers Association.

Raydell loved to travel. Her advice to anyone regarding travel was “if you have an opportunity to take a trip and travel…do it! Don’t contemplate it…just go!” She and Ted traveled all over the country and abroad. A most memorable trip for her was when they took their grown children and their families to the Grand Canyon in the early 90’s to “hike it” or “mule it.” Raydell chose to hike it all the way down to Phantom Ranch, and then she headed back up to the rim the following day. She was about 58 years old, and we were all so proud of her.

Raydell had many talents. She was an avid pianist and loved playing in the Bell Choir at King Memorial United Methodist Church in Whitney where she attended church. She loved to play tennis, golf, fish, and hunt quail and dove with Ted, family and friends. Card games and dominoes were definitely on the schedule of activities, and each game was met with fierce competition and opponent heckling.

She was always entertaining with flair and maintained a beautiful yard and gardens. Raydell had many hobbies of which knitting was one of her favorites. She has knitted everything from sweaters, gloves, mittens, scarves, and afghans over the years. Bridge parties were a priority where she played with friends 2-3 times a week.

In December of 2022, Raydell moved to the Country Club Retirement Center in Whitney. The O’Neil family is grateful for their loving care of our mother. She loved CCRC and considered it home and the staff, family. A special thank you to Karen Bailey, Epi Rutiaga, Jeannie Lockridge, Ashley Tarpley, Lynn Strickland, Jill Minnox, and Angela O’Daniel for your continuous loving care for our Mother.

Raydell was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Dedell Gay; husband, Ted O’Neil, Sr; Sister, Mary Ann Miller; nephew, Lyle Latson; grandson, Austin Busby; and great-grandson, Nate Callaway.

She is survived by: sister, Judy Buchholz and husband, Mike of Indiana; daughter, Melaney O’Neil of Whitney; son, Clay O’Neil and wife, Deanna of Weatherford; son, Ted O’Neil and wife, Leslie of Whitney, daughter, Anna O’Neil of Fort Worth: grandchildren, Misti Callaway and husband Jay of Whitney: Tessa Shambaugh and husband Scott of Whitney; Austin, Leigh, Mary Karen O’Neil of Weatherford, Matt McSwain of Weatherford, Brandon O’Neil and wife, Kolbie of Weatherford, Craig O’Neil and wife, Maci of Spring Branch, Elyse Busby of Brock, Garrett Busby of Brock: 10 Great-grandchildren.: Zach Callaway and wife, Lana; Kate, Holland, & Marley Shambaugh of Whitney, Reddan Busby, Logan and Jaedin Jernigan, Karli Fuller, Braxon and Brinley O’Neil, Mabry Jo O’Neil; many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.

Pallbearers: Garrett Busby, Zach Callaway, Brandon O’Neil, Craig O’Neil, Austin O’Neil, Reddan Busby, Ray Mabry

Honorary Pallbearers: Matt McSwain, Keith Reed, Dodd Carmichael, David Gilmore, Michael Hickman

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Whitney Church of Christ in honor of Nate Callaway, P.O. Box 621, Whitney, Texas. Nate had a huge heart for kids not as blessed as he was and always wanted to help them have good clothes and shoes. Raydell would be honored to continue her late great-grandson’s tradition.