Joe Ray McWhorter, age 65, of Archer City, Texas passed away Friday, May 4, 2018, in a Wichita Falls hospital.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2018, at the First Baptist Church of Archer City with Roger Deerinwater of Archer City officiating.  Interment will follow in the Archer City Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Aulds Funeral Home.

Joe was born August 6, 1952 in Olney, Texas to the late Kenneth Lee McWhorter and June LaVerne McEwen McWhorter.

He graduated from Archer City High School.  He worked in his family's business, McWhorter's Food Store in Archer City, for several years and then was the co-owner and operator of McWhorter's Meat Market in Wichita Falls.

He married the love of his life, Gaye Bishop, on March 26, 1971 in Olney, Texas.

Joe was a former member of the Archer City Volunteer Fire Department.  His favorite pastime was team roping, riding horses and coyote hunting.  However, the thing that brought him the most joy in his life were his children and grandchildren.  He was a supporter of all of their activities.

Joe will be greatly missed by his wife, Gaye of Archer City; three daughters, Shanan Coates and husband, Bud, Brandi Taylor, and Brooke Reneau and husband, Beau, all of Archer City; two sisters, Ginger Hilton of Olney, Kandy McWhorter of Abilene, and Jan Long and husband, Jigger of Abilene; one brother, Jay McWhorter and wife, Lydia of Wichita Falls; one brother-in-law, Jackie Bishop of Wichita Falls; five grandchildren, Cody Coates, Caitlin Taylor, Maggie Coates, Brody Reneau and Briley Reneau; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Jack Bishop; mother-in-law, Imogene Bishop; brother, Jerry McWhorter; brother-in-law, Tommy Hilton; and sister-in-law, Kay Bishop.

Serving as pallbearers will be Pat Cowan, Kerry Bowen, Sammy Cockrell, T Richardson, Herbert Detmer, JR. Livingston, Jerry Bishop, Mickey Gee, Joe Mac Boogeman, Lane Collins, and Billy Tarant.

The family suggests memorials to the Archer City Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 367, Archer City, Texas 76351 or the Archer County Rodeo Association, P.O. Box 792, Archer City, Texas 76351.