The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Rayma Lee Sanford 83, passed away Jan. 8, in Lavinia, Tn., after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease. Rayma was born June 24, 1930, in Blackwell, Ok., to Leslie Ray and Ethel Tripp. She married Joseph Cheney Sanford Nov. 12, 1950. They were married for 46 years.

Rayma loved her work as a nurse doing patient care and especially teaching young nurses. She worked in Blackwell Ok., Milan Tn,, and Orange. While working at Orange Baptist Hospital, she was awarded Nurse of the Year In 1995. When not working she enjoyed rose gardening, country dancing and working with horses.

She was a great wife, mother, and loved being a grandmother.

Rayma had a son, Joseph Cheney Sanford II; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rebecca and Sam McLemore of Lavinia, and Cynthia and Richard Kain of Orange; three granddaughters and their husbands, Sarah and Patrick Douglas of Orange, Hannah and Jessie Patterson of Conroe, and Valerie Sharp of Jackson, Tn; and four great-grandchildren, Zaine Patterson and Zoay Patterson of Conroe, Kayla Grace Sharp and Jaxon Sharp of Jackson.

She was preceded on death by her brother, John Travis Tripp; husband, Joseph Cheney Sanford; and son Joseph Cheney Sanford II.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Visitation will be from noon until 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, The Giving Field in Beaumont, or a charity of your choice.