Jerry Wayne Raley

Jerry Wayne Raley, 82, of Garland, TX passed away on October 2, 2026, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by the love of his family and his favorite gospel hymns playing on repeat

His family was the center of his life, and the love, memories, traditions, and lessons he shared with them will continue through the generations.

He leaves behind the love of his life and wife of 61 years, Patsy Raley. He is also survived by his daughter, Julie Simons, and her husband, Kurt (his granddaughter, Ellie Gallyean, and her husband, Cameron, and his grandson, Jay); his son, John Raley, and his wife, Regina (his grandson, Emmitt, and granddaughter, Raegan); his sister, Paula Babb.

He was preceded in death by his beloved grandson, Luke Simons; his parents, Marvin Emmitt and Lillie Raley; his brother, Kenneth Raley; and his sister, Vivian Barfoot.

Wayne was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, where he grew up as the oldest of four children. Some of his fondest childhood memories were made surrounded by extended family. He spent much of his youth with cousins and grandparents on both sides of the family and carried with him throughout his life many stories and treasured memories of time spent at the “old homeplace.”

He graduated from Murphy High School in 1961. He went on to attend William Carey University, where he met the love of his life, Patsy Thompson. The two later transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree and double majored in Mathematics and Physics.

During his college years, Wayne had the opportunity to work for NASA at Cape Canaveral, an experience that deepened what would become a lifelong fascination with space and the exploration of the unknown. He witnessed firsthand the excitement of America's space program and had the opportunity to experience several historic moments in its early years. What began as a college job became a lasting passion. Throughout his life, he continued to follow space exploration with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine appreciation for the remarkable achievements of the space program.

After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Wayne and Patsy were married and began their life together in 1965. Their honeymoon, which coincided with Thanksgiving week, brought an unexpected turn when Wayne learned that the graduate program and fellowship he had planned to pursue had been suspended by the university.

Rather than allowing the unexpected change to derail their plans, the newlyweds spent their honeymoon week interviewing for opportunities and ultimately accepted a position with UNIVAC doing technical computer systems implementation. They quickly planned for an unexpected move to Huntsville, Alabama, beginning the next chapter of their lives together.

During their six years in Huntsville, Wayne and Patsy built lasting friendships and established relationships that remained important to them throughout their lives. Those years as young marrieds became a treasured chapter in their story together. Wayne and Patsy began their family during this time when their daughter Julie was born in 1970.

In 1972, Wayne and Patsy moved to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where he began his career at Stennis Space Center and they also welcomed their son John to the family. Wayne’s professional life brought together his strengths in mathematics, science, programming, and his lifelong fascination with space. He worked as a scientific programmer at several NASA data centers and contributed to projects including the Space Shuttle Main Engine Controller, engine testing and calibration databases, and sunspot analysis.

His work with NASA allowed him to remain closely connected to the space program he had come to love during his college years. What began with his early experiences at Cape Canaveral grew into a career that allowed him to contribute to the technology and data behind America's space exploration efforts.

The family soon settled in Long Beach, Mississippi, where Wayne and Patsy would raise their children and make their home for many years. The Mississippi Gulf Coast became the backdrop for their family life, and the community they built there remained an important part of their story. It was the place where their children grew up, family traditions took root, and many lasting friendships were formed. Wayne was ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church, Long Beach and was an active member in church service in such ways as teaching Sunday School classes across many ages, singing in the choir, serving on numerous church committees, and leading in many service projects for the church and the community.

Years later, Wayne and Patsy made another significant move, leaving the Gulf Coast to join their children and their growing families in Texas. They formed friendships during these years that have now lasted more than 30 years, creating another circle of people who became an important part of their lives.

Most importantly, the move brought them closer to their children, Julie and John, and opened the door to one of the greatest joys of Wayne's life: becoming “Baddy” to his five grandchildren. He embraced the role wholeheartedly, bringing the same enthusiasm and devotion to being a grandfather that he had brought to every part of his life.

Whatever captured Wayne’s interest, he was all in. Over the years, his interests included hunting, fishing, golf, reading, playing cards, and the study of handwriting and personality analysis. His lifelong fascination with space and the space program remained a constant. But perhaps what he enjoyed most was sharing what he knew, telling a good story, and simply spending time talking with people. For Wayne, conversation was rarely just conversation—it was a way of connecting, learning, remembering, and enjoying the people around him.

His faith was an important and enduring part of his life, and he was committed not only to living out that faith, but to sharing it with others. Whether through conversation, encouragement, or simple acts of kindness, he looked for opportunities to offer hope and point others toward the things he believed mattered most.

He leaves behind a legacy of faith, stories, traditions, friendships, and countless memories shared around tables, at family gatherings, and in everyday conversations. His curiosity, enthusiasm, generosity, and genuine interest in others touched far more lives than he could ever have known.

For his family, however, he will always be more than the accomplishments of his career or the many interests that filled his life. He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who showed up, stayed connected, and made people feel that they mattered. To his five grandchildren, he was simply—and forever—Baddy.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Make-A-Wish North Texas in Wayne’s memory. Make-A-Wish holds a special place in the family’s hearts after granting a cherished wish to their family.