Paul Ray Page

Paul Ray Page, age 82, of Cleveland, Texas, passed away Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at his home. Paul Ray Page, nicknamed “Doodle,” was the son of Dan Davis Page and Era Novelline Morriss Page. Born at home, August 11, 1930, on Tarkington Prairie, he was the third of five children. Long before the generation of video games and cell phones, Paul Ray put his hands to work outdoors. He was happiest on horseback or working cattle. He attended school at Tarkington, where he was an accomplished athlete, especially in track and field events. After graduating from Tarkington High School in 1949 he attended Sam Houston State College as a Physical Ed major. He was not terribly devoted to his studies and after a short stint as a college student was quite happy to leave Huntsville behind to return to his beloved Prairie. Paul Ray joined the Army in 1952. After serving two years, with a tour in Korea, he again returned home, working briefly for Gulf States Electric. On March 11, 1955, he married the love of his life, Robbie Faye Tullis and began dairy farming in June 1956 only a few miles from where he was born and raised. Together, he and Robbie raised two children, Michael Ray and Susan. Happiest at home with his cattle, he also enjoyed taking his wife to Franks in Dayton to eat seafood on Friday nights. It was their weekly date night; a tradition they continued for many years. Paul Ray loved his dairy cattle and for 18.5 years walked to the barn twice a day every day to milk. Usually milking around 30-40 head, he did not believe in any help and opted to do it all himself, only missing 2 milking’s during all those years. After selling the dairy cattle in 1974, he rice and soybean farmed and later drove a log truck until he “officially” retired in 1997. All his life he raised beef cattle. Diagnosed with thoracic cancer in 1992, he underwent surgery to remove his larynx. Paul Ray believed a day of hard work helped you sleep at night and approached the medical set back in stride. He scheduled the cancer treatments early in the morning so he could still haul logs during the day. To sum up Paul Ray Page you could say he was an honest, hardworking, and happy man. His last years he spent tending his cattle and taking care of the land he loved. As his health failed, he fought hard, but following another heart attack during the early morning hours on Saturday, January 5th, he was transported to the hospital in Conroe, only to return home hours later. His wishes had always been to die at home. He was at peace with his Lord and had faith in his eternity. He just wanted to come home to his wife, his own bed and to the Prairie he called home; three days later he died peacefully in his sleep with his wife beside him. He was a blessed man, but we were even more blessed to have had him. To everyone who shared in this wonderful man’s life, we thank you. He is preceded in death by his parents Dane Davis Page and Era Novelline Morriss Page; his brothers Kenneth “Rock” Page, Leonard Page; granddaughter Kathryn Dianne Bailes; and his father and mother-in-law R.B. and Margaret Tullis. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 57 years Robbie Faye Tullis Page; son Michael Ray Page of Tarkington Prairie; daughter Susan Page Bailes and husband E.J. Bailes of Shepherd; four grandchildren Dwayne Page of Houston, Kimberly Bailes Wunderlich and husband Corbee of Spring Branch, Ernest Bailes and wife Courtney of Shepherd, and Kari Bailes Rhodes and husband Ryan of Shepherd; six great-grandchildren Dylan, Rylee and Macey Wunderlich, Cinco and Rigby Bailes, and Kinsley Rhodes; brother Jim Page and wife Margaret of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister Nancy Page Ellis of Tarkington; brother-in-law Ronnie Tullis and wife Linda of Willis; sister-in-law Clara Blackwell Page of Tarkington as well as many loved nieces and nephews. The family held a private graveside service for Mr. Page on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Ryan Cemetery, Cleveland, Texas.