Chad Raynes

July 4, 1974 – July 25, 2017 Chad Benjamin Raynes, 43, passed away on July 25, 2017, in Surprise, Arizona, after a heroic battle with lung and bone cancer. Chad was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 4, 1974, to Jack and Sherri Raynes. Chad attended Moon Valley High School where he excelled in pole vaulting and graduated from Al Collins School of Design in 1998 with a Computer Design Degree. Chad took pride in working as a manager, welder and fabricator at Metal Products in Phoenix, AZ. He was also a Track and Field Pole Vaulting Coach at Willow Canyon High School. He absolutely loved training students and organizing meets. Chad’s love for his kids started when he became a step father to his son Damon. They instantly became bonded through skateboarding and that remained a love between them. When he found out he was to become a father again, he knew it was going to be a girl. The day his daughter Kayla Grace was born she was forever “Daddy’s little girl” and he was, and will forever be, her ‘Hero.” Chad also loved to fish. Just about every time he put a pole in the water he caught something. He was an expert fisherman and we know he is in Heaven reeling them in! Chad is preceded in death by grandparents Russell Benjamin Raynes, Louise Ollie Raynes, Jay Dee Parker, and Billie Bee Hatton Parker Andrews. Chad is survived by his wife, Michelle (Whitford), and his children, Damon McNeff and Kayla, his father Jack (Kathy) Raynes and mother Sherri Creager, step father Mike (Debbie) Creager, his sister Brandi (Richard) Nichol and nephews Jared and Kyle. Also father-in-law Doug (Patty) Whitford and mother-in-law Jackie Whitford, sister-in-law Kelli (Ken) Wright-Gary and niece, Cassandra Lingle. Services will be held at Church for the Nations, 14795 W. Mountain View Blvd., Surprise, AZ 85374 at 2 pm. Celebration of Life to follow immediately at the church. Funeral arrangements were made by Menke Funeral and Cremation Center, 12420 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Willow Canyon High School Track and Field, 17901 W. Lundberg St., Surprise, AZ 85388.