Raymond "Ray" Eugene Dubois

Raymond “Ray” Eugene Dubois was born on November 13, 1944 to Raymond and Rina Dubois in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the textile country of New England. He spent many happy years of his childhood going fishing, singing in the church choir, and ice skating on the frozen ponds during the winter months. He felt the call to join the Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis and spent a year at the base in Guantanamo. During his 4 years of service, he became a Swimmer and a Beach Jumper in a special warfare unit and was also part of a special test team. When he left the Navy, he lived in Virginia for a short time with his first wife before moving on to Arizona and Nevada for several years. The dry heat of the desert caused him to seek refuge in the Florida Keys, where he met his second wife, Debra “Debbie” Fowler, at a home show where he literally gave her the shirt off his back after she was tossed into a hot tub on the last day of the show. His dad had always told him to find a farmer’s daughter and as it turned out, Debbie’s parents owned a chicken farm so he had found what he was looking for. They had 2 daughters, Jennifer and Jessica, and made a good life for them in Marathon, FL with lots of time spent at the beach and traveling every summer. He loved being a father and the time he spent with his girls was something he cherished.

Ray was a man of many talents. He worked at a radio station in Marathon, where he had a morning show, created commercials for local businesses, and climbed the radio towers as needed to keep things running. He also worked at Fishermen’s Hospital in a marketing role and Marathon High School as a mentor, helping students figure out a career path and providing guidance to make that happen. He was an avid reader and loved nothing more than to sit outside in the sunshine with a good book to read.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Rina Dubois, his brother Joseph Dubois, and his sister Cecilia Bergeron. He is survived by his siblings Theresa Payeur, Edward Dubois, Mary Plante, and Jean Paul Dubois. He will forever be remembered by his daughters, Jennifer Ragsdale (husband Charles Ragsdale) and Jessica Petree (husband Justin Petree), along with Jessica’s children, Jazmin, Myron, and Jayden who loved their pépère very much. He also leaves behind his best friend, longtime confidant, and “bonus daughter” Michelle “Shelli” Routon, who helped him through several battles with cancer and was able to keep him laughing in even the hardest times.

As per Ray’s request, no funeral or memorial services will be held at this time.

“So when tomorrow starts without me don’t think we’re far apart, for every time you think of me, I’m right there in your heart.” - David M. Romano