James Clifton Raley was born on December 26, 1939, at home in Drasko, Texas to Ira and Mary Raley. At 84 years of age, James went to be with his Lord on December 24, 2024, in Abilene, Texas with his family gathered around him.

James was a loving husband and father. He graduated from Big Spring High School and attended a semester at Howard College before meeting Donna Jean Greer at Edwards Heights Pharmacy where he worked as a stocker, and she worked as a Soda Jerk. James welcomed the Lord into his heart at a young age attending church with his family as a child. The Raleys had their first child, Ricky, in Big Spring, Texas. They relocated to Wichita Falls to begin his career working with Walgreens, where they welcomed their next two children, Chris and Danna. Later, they moved to Austin where their youngest, Mitch, was born. From Austin, they moved to Midland where the family joined Crestview Baptist Church. Dad was a fixer of many things. He always tried to save money by doing all the maintenance on the cars (so many cars), home, himself and even self-proclaimed physician for his family. He could fix just about anything – even before YouTube tutorials.

When the family moved to their Hill Country homestead of Leander in 1976, James used his knack for working with his hands to enter the plumbing trade. His career began with Salyer Plumbing Company before James became a Master Plumber and started his own business, James Raley Plumbing. After serving the greater Leander area for many years, the Raleys moved into their beautiful Tudor home in Mason, Texas where James and Donna quickly became a vital part of the community as Raley Plumbing brought much needed services to the town. Upon retirement, James and Donna became nomads moving from Abilene to Austin and back to Abilene, living on their own and with their children, Mitch and Danna. Wherever they lived, they welcomed their friends and family (especially their grand and great-grandchildren) into their home with open arms. James always led his family with strength and instilled his strong work ethic in all of his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren will always remember Grandad working on a house project, taking them on a plumbing job, beating them at a board game, and riding on his lawnmower in Mason. In his later years, he always loved to see and hold his great grandbabies. His family are comforted to know he is home again, bowling with Grandmommy somewhere in heaven.

James is preceded in death by his wife Donna of 64 years and their first-born son Ricky, as well as his parents Ira and Mary Raley, two sisters Wanda Collier of Coahoma, Texas and Carrie Belew of Big Springs, Texas. He is survived by his sister Jo Meador of Big Springs, son Chris Raley and his wife Blinda of Abilene, his daughter Danna Reeves and her husband Lee of Abilene, his son Mitch Raley and his wife Heather of Round Rock, many grandchildren, and even more great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Mason Funeral Home on Saturday, December 28th, 2024, at 11:00 am, followed by a graveside service at 12:00pm at the Old Gooch Cemetery in Mason, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you send gifts to Hendrick Hospice Care in Abilene.

Condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net