Photo courtesy of Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel
Dec 15, 1944 - Mar 23, 2018
Raymond mentored my son Brandon Denney, and contributed to the fine son and man he is today. Raymond was a kind man; I always respected the wonderful father he was. God bless you, Raymond McQueen. You are missed.
Linda Wright
March 21, 2023 | Slidell, LA | Friend
Never forgotten, a wonderful, kind man.
Linda Wright
March 21, 2022 | Slidell, LA | Friend
My son, Brandon Denney, and I were just talking about Raymond. My son loved him; he was a kind friend , mentor, and very funny. God Bless him in Heaven.
Linda Denney
March 21, 2021 | Pensacola, FL | Friend
You were very special ,in my son Brandon's life. He misses you very much
Linda Wright
March 21, 2019 | Pensacola, FL | Friend
We are so sorry for your loss Becky. I wish we could be there on The celebration of Raymond's life here in Atlanta, but a bluegrass band came in last night and we just could not leave them.
Raymond and Joe were always a hoot together. We will miss he soft voice and just an overall good man. You don't find too many left. We have a little taste of who he really was and will never forget him.
MJ Goodman
May 05, 2018 | Rex, GA
I didn't know Raymond personally. Just from Facebook. But, I could sense that he was a kind and caring man from his posts and comments. It's speaks volumes about Raymond that he can cause a stranger to mourn his passing. God bless his family and all that loved him.
Carolyn Abel
April 06, 2018 | Johnson City, TN
Uncle Raymond.. I am sorry I won't have the opportunity again to sit and talk story with you.. we always had a lot of fun with those chats. I will never forget the day I met you... you and Beck threw some sympathy my way and fed me (poor Tech student).. that had to be 35-36 years ago... I came for dinner but stayed late :) oh.. and then we went for a ride in your van and the dashboard smoked.. that was hilarious.. Love you old man and I do look forward to sitting around with Becky and telling...
Chri Hodges
April 02, 2018 | Kamuela, HI
Raymond was funny and caring, and just an all around cool dude. You will be missed! Loving, comforting thoughts to Becky, Matthew and Owen.
Nora Bailey
March 29, 2018 | Pensacola
Raymond , always a precious, caring father for as long as I've known him. God bless him on his journey. A very painful loss for his family and all who loved him, esp. My son, Brandon Denney.
Linda Wright
March 28, 2018 | New Orleans, LA
David Raymond McQueen, Jr., 73, of Pensacola, FL, passed away suddenly Friday, March 23, 2018, in Pensacola.
Born December 15, 1944 in Elizabethton, TN, Raymond was the son of Margaret Boling McQueen and David Raymond McQueen, Sr. who was killed in WWII six weeks prior to Raymond’s birth. His mother and beloved stepfather, M.S. Bangs, moved with Raymond to Daytona Beach, FL in 1946 where they built and operated the Sea Zoo, Sugar Mill Gardens and Birdland. Raymond and family moved back to Elizabethton in 1954. He graduated from Elizabethton High School and earned a BS in Biology and Master of Science in Environmental Health degree from East Tennessee State University.
Raymond was a junior high school science teacher in Oak Ridge, TN before beginning his 35-year career dedicated to environmental health. His important work included health inspection management for the DeKalb County GA Health Department; inspection of public schools in Georgia for asbestos and lead; assessment of Native American lands and facilities for environmental hazards; and training and supervision of workers responsible for removing asbestos and lead. In 1997, Raymond and wife Becky moved with their sons, Matthew and Owen, to Pensacola where Raymond continued his work as an environmental health consultant, before retiring in 2006.
Raymond was an avid car enthusiast, winning awards as a drag racer at Bristol and driving a NASCAR car 180 mph at Daytona International Speedway. He loved the beach, the Smoky Mountains, his yellow Labrador retrievers, and birding with his wife Becky. A kind and generous man, Raymond never met a stranger and was loved by all who knew him. He was a mentor and raconteur and will be remembered for his wit, intelligence, and caring.
Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Rebecca Hodges McQueen of Pensacola; son, Matthew David McQueen and daughter-in-law Diva Dompé of Los Angeles; son, Owen Grey McQueen of Pensacola; and granddaughter Love Adelina McQueen of Los Angeles; several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, a multitude of friends, and his faithful companions, Sugar and Buddy.
Celebrations of Raymond’s life will be held in Atlanta, GA, and Elizabethton, TN at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Raymond’s honor to the National Resources Defense Council at 40 West 20th St., 11th floor, NY, NY 10011, by phone at 212-727-4429, or online at www.act.nrdc.org/Donate.
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