Guy D. Raef

Guy Donald Raef, 79, of Amarillo, Texas, died peacefully in his sleep on April 18, 2023. There will be a Vigil for the Deceased on Friday, April 21, at 7 p.m., at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Canyon. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 22, at 1 p.m., at St. Ann’s, followed by interment at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Guy, also known as Don or Donnie, was born to Lewie and Reba Raef in Amarillo on January 1, 1944, and raised in a family of twelve children in Umbarger. He graduated from Canyon High School in 1962 and enlisted in the United States Navy. He married Gracie Artho of Umbarger in 1964. After the Navy, Guy and Gracie settled in Amarillo, where he went to work for AT&T as a communications technician until his retirement in 2004. However, he never retired or wavered from what most characterized his life: his love for God, his beloved Catholic faith, his family, the Texas Panhandle, children (both born and unborn), dogs and cats, a good rain, and a wonderful lightness of heart.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Gracie, his grandbaby, Liam, and several siblings.

He is survived by his five children: Michelle (Tracy) Kotara of Amarillo, Fr. Scott L. Raef of Canyon, Shanna (Gregg) Weber of Beaver, OK, Joshua (Erica) Raef of Nazareth, and Amanda Raef of Amarillo, as well as sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His surviving siblings are Barbara Hartman, Sylvia Artho, and Dr. Kevin (Kathy) Raef, all of Canyon, Andy (Edith) Raef of Crestview, FL, Suzy (Marion) Hicks of Umbarger, and Margaret (Allen) Harris and Mary (John) Lyne, both of Amarillo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Charities of Amarillo, P.O. Box 15127, Amarillo, TX 79105 ( cctxp.org ) and/or The Seminarian Education Fund/Diocese of Amarillo, P.O. Box 5644, Amarillo, TX 79117 ( amarillodiocese.org )