Jim Edward Raffin

GRANBURY — James Edward “Jim” Raffin, 81, of Granbury, formerly of Glen Rose, passed from this earth on Monday, May 23, 2016, in a Fort Worth hospital.
Service: 4 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2016 at Wiley Funeral Home Chapel, Granbury. Visitation: 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2016 at Wiley Funeral Home Chapel, Granbury. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Parks Foundation.
Jim was born on January 2, 1935 to Arthur Raffin and Margaret Rose Finnegan Raffin in Manawa, Wisconsin. He graduated from Manawa High School in 1952 and enlisted in the United States Navy shortly thereafter. He married the love of his life, Ann Patricia “Pat” Mageau on January 4, 1963. During his military service, Jim was a welder in the U.S Navy Construction Forces (SEABEES). He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and went on multiple deployments to Antarctica, which he fondly referred to as being “down on the ice”. Jim retired from the Navy in 1972 as a Steel Worker Chief and a proud Navy Seabee. Jim and Pat spent several years travelling and raising their family prior to settling in the Glen Rose area in 1979, where he worked as a construction welder for Brown & Root at Comanche Peak Power Plant. He spent many a Friday night rooting for the Glen Rose Tigers, and many Christmas Eves visiting children as “Santa”. In 1996, after retiring to a life of leisure, Jim and Pat lived their dream by traveling the United States in their motor home. They served as Park Hosts for the Army Corp of Engineers, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service. The “Roaming Raffins” were highly sought after by numerous parks and were even written up in the Wall Street Journal for their volunteer work. After retiring from life on the road, they settled in the Granbury/Glen Rose area. Jim enjoyed watching his beloved Green Bay Packers with his cat, Katrina piled up in his lap. He also enjoyed spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His face always lit up when they came to visit, especially when they brought him grape slushes. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his son Steven as well as various other beloved family members. He is survived by his wife, Pat and their children Wendy Woodall and Ron of Kissimmee, FL, Cheryl Dixon and Steve of Granbury, Margaret Raffin of Phoenix, AZ, Carol Ames and Fred of Acton and Cathy Raffin of Glen Rose. Ten grandchildren: Elizabeth Stephens and Dee, Kimberly Dunnahoo and Ben and Patricia Davis, all of Stephenville. Emily Dixon of Fort Worth; Molly Dixon and Brenden Dixon of Granbury; Mixen Rubio-Raffin of Phoenix, AZ; Cody Ames of Granbury; Paige Tucker and CPL Adam USA of El Paso and ADAN Robert Germann USN of Lemoore, CA. Eight great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and too many “adopted” family members to count