Raymond Duke

Funeral services for Raymond Fleming Duke, 43, of Cleburne, Texas will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2023 in the Rosser Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Melson officiating.  Burial will follow in Rosehill Cemetery with James Johnson, David Graf, Travis Fleece, Brandon Rhodes, Charles Jordan, Jack Jordan, Jason Jordan, and Ethan Jordan serving as pallbearers.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. Sunday, March 5, 2023 at Rosser Funeral Home.

Raymond Fleming Duke was born on August 19, 1979, to Terri Jordan and James W. Duke in Cleburne Texas.  Ray grew up the middle of three brothers and one oldest sister in a home filled with love on Chambers Street. Growing up down the street from his cousins, Jason and Mark they were always found playing in the street; playing wall-ball and getting into any trouble the boys could get into. Well up until they heard Terri’s piercing whistle signaling it was time to get home. If you couldn’t find him at home, he was at his grandfather’s dairy in Sand Flat. During his childhood Ray played pee-wee football and showed dairy heifers with Cleburne FFA. Summers and weekends were spent learning what hard work was like; Grandpa Jordan made sure of it. Southern engineering was his favorite lesson.                

Raymond idolized his Uncle Charles. Charles sparked Rays love for all things outdoors, back at the dairy Charles taught Ray how to sneak through the fence into their honey hole there his obsession of fishing began. Ray could always be found with a fishing pole on him from that day on. Charles also taught Ray how to shoot a gun and took him on his first hunting trip. Hunting quickly became Ray’s favorite past time. When Uncle Charles and his Uncle Jack got their hunting lease in Senora; Ray found his own little slice of heaven. If you asked anyone Senora was Rays home away from home, where he could truly disconnect from the world and find peace. He would always tell stories of the numerous poker nights and domino games he shared with both of his beloved uncles and his dear friend James. After the loss of both of their fathers, Ray and Jack spent every following Father’s Day in the serenity that was found at the deer lease. 

Raymond met the love of his life at David Graf’s 50^th birthday party. The connection between Brittany and Ray was instantaneous. Their love story officially started on Valentine’s Day of 2015. He claims the timing of their anniversary was very poorly planned, but he wouldn’t change a thing about their life together. Not only did Brittany bring a breathe of fresh air to his life, her little boy Layne Charles fulfilled a dream he never thought he would achieve. Being a father. Ray had vowed he would never miss a single game Layne ever played and he held true to that promise. No matter what hardships arose Ray never left Brittany’s side, especially during the loss of her beloved mother. As the years passed, their love only grew and on January 8, 2021, Ray finally asked Brittany to spend the rest of their lives together. They were wed on September 18, 2021, if you asked Raymond it was the happiest day of his life.

Raymond was called home on March 1, 2023, where he was reunited with his Dad, grandparents and his fur baby Red. If you asked anyone who knew Ray to describe him you would undoubtably hear how funny he was. Raymond never shied away from cracking a joke even during the most inappropriate times. If you asked Brittany he always wore the same “shit eating grin” but her favorite was his stunning smile that stole her heart. Anytime you walked into their home Raymond had music playing, anything from classic rock to country to the occasion 90s rap. More often than not he was blaring Clay Walker. His dogs were his pride and joy, McKinney and Dallas always got bites off his plate. Ray was quick to tell you McKinney wouldn’t eat a chip without some form of dip. Not a day would pass that Ray wasn’t quoting “Slingblade” or “Mrs. Doubtfire” but his all-time favorite movie was “Top Gun.” If you never received one of Rays hugs you were truly missing out, they were the absolute best. Ray was always dressed to the nines and took great pride in his appearance, not that he didn’t get a lot of crap from the rest of the family for taking so long. Ray was the most giving man we knew, he would give you the shirt off his back no matter what his situation might be. He was a hard worker, he spent the last year working the night shift at the Cleburne Home Depot. He enjoyed his time with his coworkers and any customers he came across. Raymond never knew a stranger; he could make friends with anyone. He was larger than life and stubborn as hell, but he was loved by so many.

He is preceded in death by his father, James Duke; and grandparents Charles and Thetis Jordan, and R.C. and Othelle Homan.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Brittany Duke; son, Layne Blackwell; Fur-babies, McKinney Lou and Dallas James; mother, Terri Duke; sister, Melinda Fleece and husband, Willie; brothers Ron Duke and Warren Duke and wife, Victoria; numerous niece and nephews; one great nephew; and many other family members and friends.