Raymond Bryant

Raymond Bryant of Maryville Tennessee passed at the age of 87, on the evening of February 14, 2024 at Blount Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his wife and loved ones. To know him was to love him, because he loved everyone and he loved big!  Ray was born on July 14, 1936 in Purdy, Kentucky, the son of Robert Logan Bryant and Cecil Chelf-Bryant. He was married to Ina Faye Harmon-Bryant for 69 years. They were married on October 9, 1954 in Jeffersonville, Kentucky. Ray worked alongside his father and siblings on the Bryant Family Farm in Campbellsville, KY until he moved to Illinois. Ray and his wife Faye, along with their oldest son DannyRay Bryant, moved to Illinois in 1956 where he worked in an insulation factory for 14 years. Ray then drove a ready-mix truck for over 30 years, at Naperville Ready-Mix and Welsch’s Ready Mix, where he retired from in 1999. Ray was a faithful member of First Apostolic Church of Aurora for over 30 years, with his dear friend Bill Coltharp as his Pastor. During his time at FAC Aurora, he served as an Usher, a Sunday School Bus Driver, taught many Bible studies, and he and his wife led the Young Married Class for 20 years.  

In the Spring of 2000, Ray and his family retired to Maryville, TN. He built a house with a beautiful view of the Smoky Mountains, and taking care of his yard was one of his favorite past times. Sitting around a fire, picking his guitar and singing with his family was something he loved to do. And let’s not forget about his many antique automobiles that he and his buddies would tinker around on. He has been a faithful member of First Apostolic Church of Maryville under the leadership of Pastor Kenneth Carpenter for the last 24 years.  

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Cecil Bryant, brothers Willard Bryant, Bobby Bryant, Buddy Bryant, sister Janice Bryant-Harmon, and his oldest son DannyRay Bryant. 

He is survived in death by his wife Faye Bryant, his daughters Sheila (Stan) Jeter, Kim (Richard) Fye, sons Mark (Pam) Bryant and Michael (Tracee) Bryant, along with his 14 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. 

Family will receive friends from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm on Friday, February 23, 2024 at First Apostolic Church of Maryville. Funeral Service will be directly following at 7:00 pm with Pastor Kenneth Carpenter officiating. Family and friends will assemble for entombment at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Grandview Cemetery Pavilion. 

Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com