Mr. Leonard Raven, Sr., 97, of  Beaumont, Texas, passed away on Friday, November 7, 2025 in Beaumont, Texas.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Raven will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Beaumont Church of Christ located at 3710 S. Eleventh Street in Beaumont, Texas. The Public Viewing for Mr. Raven will be held on Friday, November 21, 2025 from 12:Noon until 5:00 p.m. at Mercy Funeral Home Chapel and on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Beaumont Church of Christ, with the practice of social distancing. Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Cemetery in Beaumont, Texas under the direction of Mercy Funeral Home.

Obituary

Leonard Raven, Sr. was born on Saturday, April 14, 1928, in Waskom, Texas, to the late Norman and Corine Clark Raven. At the age of 16, he left Waskom and moved to Orange, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Willie Mae Owens. They married on February 3, 1946. To their union were born seven children, Leonard Raven, Jr. ( Brenda), San Diego; John Douglas Raven, Sr. (late wife Carolyn), Beaumont; Homer Thomas Raven (Patricia), Beaumont; Charles Edward Raven (deceased), Beaumont; Tommy Ray Raven, Beaumont; Ricky Anthony Raven (Felicia), Conroe, Texas and Trina Renee Raven LaSalle (Tony), Beaumont.
He was employed by Bethlehem Steel in Beaumont from 1955-1960 and was their first Black welder. In March of 1960, he became employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber as a laborer. He was later promoted to a position in Plant Protection/Security and worked there until his retirement in 1994.
He enjoyed many things in life but took great pleasure in playing golf, dominoes, the lottery, collecting cans and simply enjoying his family.
On October 3, 2021, he obeyed the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptized at Beaumont Church of Christ where he faithfully attended until his passing.
He is survived by twenty-six grandchildren, sixty-five great-grandchildren, and a host of                great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Norman and Corine Raven (parents); Willie Mae Raven (wife); Charles Edward Raven (son); Charles Jackson (son) ; Jarrod Neal ( great grandson); Carolyn Raven (daughter-in-law); Lorine Turner, Corine Williams, Zelma Hall (sisters); Coleman Raven, Julius Raven, Norman Raven, Jr., Carl Raven, William Raven (brothers); Delona Raven Daw (granddaughter); Cedric Raven (grandson); Christopher Raven (grandson); and Lawrence Malveaux (great-grandson).