IN LOVING MEMORY OF REVEREND LEE RAY BEST

Lee Ray Best came into this world on January 24, 1935 in Crane, Texas to the late Raymond Lou Best and Alcie Lee Best. He made his triumphant transition to Heaven on December 28, 2024. Assuredly, he was greeted with a heavenly choir.

Lee Ray Best grew up in Crane, Texas and participated in football, track, and swimming while in high school. From there he enrolled in Wayland Baptist College in Plainview where he worked the night shift as an orderly at the hospital.  It was on the night shift that he met and married the late Mrs. Ethel Lee Chapman Best on April 4, 1958 and remained married to her for 62 years until her death on April 12, 2020. From this union four children were born, Barbara Lee Best-Marchbanks, Mark Andrew Best, Darla Kay Best Britt, and the late Robin Dewayne Best.

After graduating from Wayland Baptist College, the family moved to Jacksonville, Texas where he attended Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary where he earned a Master’s in Theology. 

Bro. Best served in over 30 churches across Texas more than 65 years as a Pastor. For the last 45 years he served churches in East Texas including Mesiah Baptist in Nacogdoches, Central Baptist in Wells, First Baptist in Friday, Texas, New Hope Baptist Jacksonville, Liberty Baptist in Henderson, Broyles Chapel Baptist Palestine, and others. While pastoring in Palestine, Bro. Best taught satellite Greek classes for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth.

He also, taught high school math and coached football and basketball for several years while living in West Texas.

 Bro. Best and his late wife, had a heart for service and shared the gospel in multiple capacities including conducting weekly nursing home services, prison ministries, homeless ministries, working with youth groups, and substituting in local schools.  Serving Christ was Bro. Best’s life commitment and he shared that devotion with their 4 children, 18 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren.

He never met a stranger and in just a few minutes he would share Christ’s redemption through the Roman Road to anyone that would listen.  He loved to sing and he and his sons made a beautiful trio of voices singing praises to God.  In the last few months in a care facility with dementia, he could be heard singing “Amazing Grace” and other hymns to the other residents.  The nursing staff shared that he lifted the spirit of anyone that came in contact with him.

Bro. Lee Ray Best is survived by daughter Barbara Lee Best Marchbanks and her husband Rev. David Marchbanks, daughter Darla Kay Britt, son Rev. Mark Andrew Best and his wife Pamela Sue Barber Best (currently serving in Slovakia as missionaries) 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, church members, and friends.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Ethel Lee Chapman Best, son Robin Dewayne Best, son-in-law David Harold Britt, and his parents Raymond and Alcie Best.

He will be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews, extended family, friends, and the many that he led to Christ over the years.

Bro. Best trusted God completely and listened daily for God’s instructions His children saw him daily each morning on his knees in prayer.  Bro. Best was a true example of serving God and there is no doubt that his legacy followed him through his children who have all been involved in church ministry. He served God faithfully and committed until God called him home.

A grave-side service will be held at 2:30pm on Friday, January 3, 2024, at the Resthaven Cemetery in Jacksonville, by Boren-Connor Funeral Home.  Rev. Nathan McBride will officiate with Rev. David Marchbanks reading the obituary. A visitation will begin at 2:00pm, in the cemetery, prior to the service.