Michael Christopher "Chris" Ulery, 50, of Orange, died Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at his home after a long courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 pm, Friday at the funeral home.

Chris was born on May 27, 1958, in Orange, Texas. He is the son of Jack and Betty Ulery. Chris graduated from West Orange High School in 1976 and then played football at Stephen F. Austin. He worked as an operator for 29 years at DuPont/Invista.

Chris was preceded in death by his grandparents, Howard and Edna Trammell and Roy and Emmaline Shrauner; uncle, Joe Trammell; and father-in-law, Tommy Martin, Sr.

Those left to cherish his memory are wife, Kim Martin Ulery of Orange; parents, Jack and Betty Ulery of Orange; mother-in-law, Vivien Martin of Orange; daughter, Chrisleigh Roccaforte and husband Aaron of Bridge City; son, Chase Ulery of Orange; grandson, Trenton Roccaforte of Bridge City; brother-in-law, Tommy Martin, Jr. and wife Patti of Orange; sister-in-law, Cindi LaChance and husband Jerry of Orange; aunt and uncle, Howard and Violet Trammell of Lumberton; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Serving as pallbearers will be Billy Wright, Darrel Armstreet, Ken Reeves, Don Sargent, Pete Quintero, Sam Mangham, Roy Burch and Roger White.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors and nurses of M.D. Anderson Cancer Treatment Center in Houston and the Southeast Texas Hospice.