Leray Scifres

Leray Scifres, 56, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2023 of natural causes at his home in Abilene, Texas. Funeral Services will be officiated by Rev. John Whitten II on Friday, March 31st at 2:00 pm. in the Elmwood Funeral Home chapel, 5750 US 277 Abilene, Texas 79606 with burial to follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday, March 30th 6:00 pm - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Jessie Leray Scifres was born on September 23, 1966 in Abilene, Texas to Jessie and Cleta Neagle Scifres. He graduated from Cooper High School in 1985 where he met the love of his life, Jill. They married December 12, 1986 and quickly welcomed their first child in Arlington. Leray attended the University of Arlington where he pursued an architecture degree and Hardin-Simmons University where he was a proud member of the Cowboy Band. Later in life, he pursued his dream career of owning an upscale Italian restaurant and graduated with his associate's degree in Culinary Arts from Texas State Technical College. He opened his first restaurant, The Flour Shop in 2012. His ultimate dream was finally fully realized with the opening of La Stazione in 2022.

To say that Leray loved to travel is an understatement. He loved the open waters and was frequently found on a ship with one or more of his traveling buddies or his sister Donna.

Leray is preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Cleta Scifres, his wife Jill, and most recently, his beloved dachshund Cindy. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law Kimberly and Brad Lord and their children Jessie, Katherine, and Jennifer Lord of Katy, Texas; his son Ryan Scifres and Selena Pruett and their children Brooke Scifres, Audie Meffert, Bianca and Maynor Sarceño; his son John Brandon Scifres and Holly Connor, and their daughter Zoey Scifres of Abilene, Texas; his sister Donna Scifres Solomon, of Abilene, Texas; and his nephew D.J. and his wife Jasmine Solomon and their daughter Addison of Abilene, Texas,