Ray Grawunder went to his heavenly home on Sunday, May 12, 2024 in Bedford, Tx.   Ray was born November 14, 1946 and grew up in Ft. Worth, TX.  He graduated from Amon Carter Riverside High School in 1965, having fun playing football while excelling in academics.  Due to his high grades and work ethics, TCU awarded him a full scholarship.  He graduated in 1970 with a BA in Biology.  He furthered his education with another scholarship at TCU, being awarded a Master’s in Education in 1975.  

Due to the movement of his family to California and then St. Louis, MO for his father’s work, Ray stayed in Ft. Worth for most of his high school years, living with his beloved grandparents, Vern and Henry Brady.  During high school and college, he earned extra money by working to help build the Hwy 820 and I35 highways and bridges in Ft. Worth in the late 60’s. 

While at TCU, he met and married his first wife, Billie Virginia Chick on July 16, 1970.  They lived in Ft. Worth and Dallas.  

Ray taught biology at Southwest High School in Ft. Worth after graduating from college.  While teaching, he was asked to be the swim coach.  He was handed a book and said – ‘go for it.’  Even though he was not familiar with anything about coaching swimming, Ray managed to take his team to State Finals.  To this day, Ray still has Facebook Friends refer to him as ‘Coach.’  However, teaching and coaching was not his life-long passion. 

During one Summer, Ray and his wife attended the University of the Americas in Pueblo MX.  He took cultural courses during this Summer, and fell in love with Mexican folk art.  After returning from Mexico, and obtaining a loan of $2,000 from his loving grandmother, Vern Brady, he began his entrepreneurial career and La Mariposa Imports was born in 1977.  Through his passion for Mexican and Latin folk art and culture, La Mariposa was a thriving enterprise for 42 years in Dallas, TX.  Ray made a markable indention in Dallas with the exclusively curated hand-picked art and collectible décor, jewelry, clothing, and many other items.  La Mariposa was featured many times in periodicals such as the Dallas Morning News, D Magazine, Southern Living and many more.  It was referred to as ‘the happiest store on earth.’  Ray made life long relationships with his customers, vendors, and employees during his career as a self-proprietor at La Mariposa Imports.  

The pride of his life, Arrington William Brady Grawunder, was born in Dallas, TX on June 11, 1981.  Ray started taking Arrington on fishing trips to Pt. Aransas, TX when he was just starting to walk.  They made a wonderful father/son bond with their love of Pt. Aransas which remains today.  Ray also put his coaching skills to work as he loved coaching Arrington’s formative years playing baseball.  This time together was so important to Ray that, he would be known to close the store for an afternoon if it meant missing a game.  There was an inseparable bond between father and son.

Ray and Billie divorced in 1990.  Ray continued sole ownership of La Mariposa until 2019 when he retired and the store was liquidated, much to the dismay of many people in Dallas.

In 1996, Ray met Gayle Brazell Grawunder at the Single Friends Class of 1st United Methodist Church of Hurst, TX.  They were married on September 12, 1997 and spent the next 26 ½ years as true soulmates.  Gayle called him her ‘Ray of Sunshine’!  Ray and Gayle loved to travel, volunteer, and spend time with family, especially the very special 6 grandchildren they shared.  These grandkids were the biggest delight in Ray’s life.  He so looked forward to the times that the kids were coming for a visit and especially the sleepovers.   

After marrying, Ray and Gayle became active members of the Goal Digger’s Class at 1st United Methodist Church of Hurst, TX where they developed deep friendships and were able to participate in many charitable opportunities of the class. 

Ray loved Mission Central, a food pantry serving the HEB area.  Off and on for many years before retirement, he volunteered as a driver picking up donations at local grocery stores.  After retirement, Ray and Gayle volunteered together on a regular basis at the food pantry.  They were members of the ‘Terrific Tuesday Team’ of Mission Central, where they were blessed weekly by the guests, the staff, and fellow volunteers.  

Ray loved his family and would make a point to tell them that he loved and appreciated them as often as possible.  Ray is survived by his loving wife, Gayle Brazell Grawunder; his son Arrington Grawunder (Christy), stepson Nicholas Hurst (Christina), stepson Joshua Hurst (Cristal); sister Susan Long (Phil), sister Marcia Hansen; nieces Megan and Kristen; Grandchildren Liam, Sawyer, Vivian, Addison, Aleah Belle, and Jack; and the mother of his son Billie Chick Grawunder.  

Ray was preceded in death by his Grandparents Henry Ellis Brady, Vern Brady, Jewel Caskey and Rudolph Grawunder; Parents Ray Henry Grawunder Sr and Mary Alice Brady Grawunder; brother Mark Brady Grawunder

Ray was one of the nicest, sweetest men on this earth.  However, he did not like to be called, ‘sweet.’  He was ‘manly’!  This ‘manly’ man will be terribly missed.  However, we know we will see him in heaven one day.  Rest in peace my love!