Raylene Violet Bennett Ritchie

Raylene Violet Bennett Ritchie passed away peacefully surrounded by love on September 2, 2026.

Raylene was born to Bertha Belle Bennett in White Oak, Missouri, on January 12, 1930. She was raised by a family friend in Clinton, Missouri, where she graduated from Clinton High School. She married Roy Edward Ritchie, at Clinton, Missouri, on July 24, 1947, and was the cherished matriarch of four generations of offspring.

Raylene worked for the telephone company on the switchboard as a young adult and later at the sheet factory in Memphis, Texas. She and Roy moved to Texas from Missouri because her brother-in-law told her that it didn’t rain all the time like it did in Missouri. She says what he didn’t tell her was that the dirt blew all the time!

Raylene’s love for her family was shown in acts of service, whether that meant cooking some of her delicious fried chicken (so good that even the ex-in-laws mention it when speaking of her) when you were there are dinnertime or helping with the grandchildren. Late in life, she discovered the lure of the slot machine and spent many a time trying her luck, all while ensuring she wasn’t leaving too much money there. She would already be planning her next trip to the casino before she got home from the one she was on.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Braddock and husband, Jim, of Clarendon; her daughter, Brenda Davis and husband, Wayne, of Canyon; her son, Mike Ritchie and wife, Pat, of Clarendon; and her daughter, Pat (Diane) Shields and husband, Larry, of Amarillo. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by siblings Lisetta, Georgia Mae, and Robert.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Roy Ritchie; her daughter, Donna Fuller and husband, Jesse Fuller; her son, Roy Eugene Ritchie; and her grandson, Robert Lee Ritchie; and sister, Louise.

Services were held on Friday, September 4, at the Robertson Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside remarks were held after services at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Raylene will be greatly missed. Her favorite color was green. If you have something green and would like to honor her, the family would love for you to wear it. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.