FERRELL "RAY" CRABTREE

Ferrell "Ray" Crabtree, age 77, of Ormond Beach, passed away after a long illness on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. A Saturday, February 13, 2010; 11:00 AM funeral in his honor will be held at the Daytona Chapel of the Lohman Funeral Home, followed by an entombment at Daytona Memorial Park. Visitation was yesterday. Ray was born in Level Cross, North Carolina to Herman and Kate Crabtree and was a proud veteran of the US Army National Guard, honorably discharged in 1963. Ray was a man of many talents and dedicated 14 years as a Dye Chemist and Supervisor for the Textiles Division of Burlington Mills, Co. Greensboro, NC. After moving to Daytona Beach he purchased a gas & auto repair Amoco Gas Station, and a Towing Company, worked for Sunshine Motors as an Auto Mechanic and was factory trained to specialize in foreign cars. He later owned and operated an automotive repair shop; Imported Car Care - US 1 Ormond Beach from 1972 until his Retirement in 1987. In 2001 he started Ray's Tree Service in Ormond Beach and operated the business until he became ill 2008. Ray was a man of simple pleasures who enjoyed life to the fullest, from 1952 - 1958 he owned a race car and ran in a grand national' circuit asphalt & dirt track racing, winning the championship in 1957 and since a small child was always fascinated with airplanes so he held a pilot license, loved flying his plane, boating and sailing on the river. His parent, a brother and his beloved wife, Donna Crabtree preceded him in death, and he leaves behind three sons: Mr. and Mrs. F. Ray and Stacy Crabtree, Jr., Mr. Randy and Kathy Crabtree, and Mr. and Mrs. David and Dee Crabtree; a daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Jim and Vickie Flaherty; seven grandchildren, five great- grandchildren; and his constant companion pup, Poco. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Daytona Beach. Condolences for the family may be shared at www.lohmanfuneral homes.com