Raymond J. Snokhous

Raymond J. "Popeye" Snokhous, age 86, of West, formerly of Houston, passed away early Friday morning, February 26, 2016 at his residence. A rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with visitation to follow until 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 29, 2016 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Paul Hudson as celebrant. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard. Raymond was born August 18, 1929 in West, the son of the late Ludwig J. "Louis" and Sidonia (Dvorsky) Snokhous. He was a very proud alumni of St. Mary's School in West and was a 1947 graduate of West High School, prior to attending Hill Junior College in Hillsboro. Raymond went on to receive a Master's Degree in Finance on a football scholarship from the University of Houston and his Jurisprudence Degree from the South Texas College School of Law in Houston. He served his country in the United States Army with the 101st Air Borne stateside during the Korean War. On September 5, 1952 he was united in marriage to Jolene Grant in Houston. Jolene preceded him in death on April 11, 1997. Raymond was then united in marriage to Clarice Ann Marik on November 20, 1999 in Magdalena, Moravia, Czech Republic. Raymond was employed by Gulf Oil Corporation from 1952 through 1983, holding various positions in accounting, tax, law and government relations. In 1983 he joined Houston Lighting and Power Company as Group Vice President of External Affairs and retired as Senior Vice-President of Government and Regulatory Affairs. He also served as the Honorary Consul General Emeritus of the Czech Republic for the State of Texas. He was a very faithful and dedicated member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. Raymond was a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Council, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Czech Heritage Society of Texas McLennan-Hill Chapter, KJT Lodge #31, American Legion Post #478, National Rifle Association, SPJST Lodge #54, the Czech Center Museum of Houston , a former member of the International Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and many other organizations. Raymond also served on the Board for the Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center in LaGrange, St. Peter's Catholic Student Center and was past president of the Houston Ship Channel. He was very proud of his Czech/American heritage and made many trips to the Czech Republic helping to donate and restore churches there. He was also known as a professional boxer, becoming a Golden Gloves Champion for the State of Texas. He enjoyed collecting antique farm equipment, working his land and preserving his father's Blacksmith Shop for posterity. He always enjoyed a good joke and spending time with his family and many friends. Raymond is also preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Louis Snokhous; and a sister, Evelyn Urbanovsky. Survivors include his beloved wife of 17 years, Clarice Snokhous of West; a son, Mark Snokhous and wife, Nanette of Deer Park; a daughter, Karen Nunneley and husband, Dean of Tulsa, OK; stepsons, John O'Hare and wife, Lucy and James O'Hare and wife, Delphine; stepdaughters, Patricia Wolfe and husband, Greg and Maureen Holy and husband, Tom; brother, James Daniels and wife, Betty; sister, Angeline Sulak; grandchildren, Jason Snokhous and wife, Kristen, Kayla Kippley and husband, Matt, Kelsey Scott and husband, Robert, Kyle Nunneley and Kody Nunneley; great granddaughters, Olivia and Sidonia; step grandchildren, Greg Wolfe, Christopher Wolfe, Kate LeNotre and husband, Gaston, Jonathan Wolfe, Josephine O'Hare and Oscar O'Hare; step great grandchildren, Beatrice, Bernard and Gerard; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Jason Snokhous, Kyle Nunneley, Kody Nunneley, Russell Devorsky, Nathan Kaluza, and Gary Snokhous. Honorary pallbearers are Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovic, Honorary Czech Consul Brian Vanicek, Earl Austin, Don Jordan, Jim Stephenson, Thomas Standish, Keith Owen and Parnell McNamara. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's School Endowment Fund, St. Mary's Cemetery or the Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center in LaGrange.