Andrew Raby Smalley

Raby Smalley, age 92 of Gatesville, entered his heavenly home Friday, January 17, 2025.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Gatesville with Pastor Andy Davis officiating. The family will receive visitors immediately following the service at the church. Private family interment will be held at Weaver Chapel Cemetery. 

Andrew Raby Smalley grew up in Claude, a small town in the Texas panhandle. It was in Claude High School that he fell for the love of his life, Verna Faye Dye. An avid sportsman and athlete, Raby played a year of football at West Texas State before transferring to Texas Tech University, during which time he married Verna Faye in her family home in Claude. Raby graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Agricultural Science. He then served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade aboard the USS Okanogan in the United States Navy based in San Diego, California. Afterwards, he and Verna moved to Ralls, Texas, where he taught school before moving to Gatesville. Raby and Verna made their life together ranching and farming his grandfather’s, Dr. R.L. Raby’s, ranch and raising their four children. He taught agriculture at Jonesboro High School for more than 30 years, during which time he earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M University and led his students to win two state championships in land judging. After being a cattleman for more than 50 years, and losing his wife of 63 years, Raby moved to Stillwell Retirement Center in Waco, Texas where he lived for 10 years. An avid bridge player, he made many good friends and stayed active till the end of his life. Raby was also a longtime Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Gatesville.

Raby was preceded in death by his wife Verna; parents, Andrew Dudley Smalley and Louise Raby Smalley; sisters, Doris Southall and MaryAnn Lovell; and brothers-in-law, Bill Dye, Dale Smith, and Gene Southall.

Raby leaves behind a sister, Ruth Smith; a brother-in-law, Jan Lovell; and his four children and their spouses, daughter Carol Mills and husband Billy, son Dan Smalley, daughter Nancy Norman and husband Keith, daughter Carla Peeler and husband Ceasar. Also surviving him are eight grandchildren, Cory Smalley and wife, Christi, Courtney Mills and wife, Natalie, Cullen Mills and wife, Erin, Dustin Smalley and wife, Ashley, Stacy Manning and husband, Blake, Trevor Roche and wife, Maddie, Joshua Popa, and Nicole Lennon and husband Braeden; twelve great grandchildren, Kelsie Cosper and husband, Dylan, Payden Smalley and wife, Alyssa Forcier, Lexie Smalley, Cadence Smalley, Noah Mills, Avery Mills, Aubrey Smalley, Linzi Smalley, Raiden Manning, Jalen Manning, Carson Roche, and Miles Roche; and two great-great grandchildren, Stoney Cosper and Delanie Smalley. 

In lieu of flowers, Raby’s family asked that memorials be made to the FFA program, care of Jonesboro Independent School District, 14909 S. State Hwy 36, Jonesboro, Texas 76538.