Raymond Edgar Pike Sr

1954 - 2025

Mr. Raymond Edgar Pike, Sr., age 70, died Thursday, March 13, 2025, at his home in Cherry Lake, Fla., surrounded by his wife and children.
Ray was born on Aug. 24, 1954, in Middleborough, Mass. On July 17,1976, he married Monica Lynn Evancho, his wife of nearly 49 years. They had three children together, and soon moved to Cherry Lake, Fla.
Shortly after high school, he worked for General Dynamics Shipyard, in Quincy, Mass., where he was skilled as a rigger and developed an interest in all types of knots, and loved to teach others how to tie a bowline, a clove hitch or any other number of useful knots. The bulk of his career, he spent as a corrections officer at the Madison Correction Institute. During his time there, he made many lifelong friends and enjoyed locksmithing and working with firearms as an armorer.
Ray's greatest joy was his family. He loved everyone being together, eating, laughing and just visiting with each other. He had a quick wit, and was quick to laugh or to make a joke.
He loved his home, and wanted everyone who visited to be as comfortable there and enjoy it as much as he did. He liked simple things most, like a cup of coffee in the morning out on the porch, watching birds in the yard or listening to music. His garden, especially his sweet corn patch and fruit trees, were special to him, and allowed him to not only put food on his own family's table, but to share with others, too. He loved his dogs. He appreciated watches and grandfather clocks, walking dirt roads, collecting rocks, watching old westerns and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Ray is survived by his wife, Monica Evancho Pike, of Cherry Lake, Fla.; son, Ray, Jr. (wife Sarah), of Cherry Lake, Fla., and their children: Fisher, Marshall, Archer and Clara; daughter, Karen, of Thomasville, Ga., and her children, Aly and Gina; and son Ben (wife Lanée), of Cherry Lake, Fla., and their children, Noah and Leander.
He is also survived by one brother, Warren (Yogi) Pike, of Maine.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, John and Edna; four brothers: John, Jr. (Jack), George, Doug and Mark; and one sister, Joan.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Big Bend Hospice.