Raymond Harold Mathisen

Raymond Harold Mathisen, known as "Ray", was born July 13, 1923 in Dwight, IL:, went to be with the Lord, Sunday, January 19, 2014. Ray is preceded in death by his parents, a sister and two brothers.
Ray completed his public education in the schools of Dwight, ILL and then attended the University of Illinois, where he graduated in 1948. He married his college sweetheart, Elizabeth "Bunny" Easter upon graduation. At Illinois, Ray was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity, active in college athletics and campus activities.
His college education was interrupted by military service in WWII from 1943 – 1946. He served as a combat infantry officer under General George Patton with the Third Army in Europe, surviving the Battle of the Bulge and was a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. In 2012 Ray was appointed Chevalier and awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal by French President Sarkozy.
Following his university education, Ray graduated from Chicago Kent College of Law, where he served as editor of the Law Review, graduated with honors and was president of Phi Delta Phi, International Legal Fraternity. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1952 upon examination, prior to law school graduation.
Ray and family moved to Coral Gables in 1960 where he practiced in corporate securities and tax law until his retirement in 1992. He was a 50 year member of the Florida Bar, American Bar and Federal Bar. While in Miami he earned a Master's Degree in Law (LLM) from the University of Miami (Florida).
Ray was active in numerous organizations including the Granada Presbyterian Church, Coral Gables, for 33 years where he was an Elder and Clerk of the Session, a lifetime member of the Gideon Ministry, Rotary Club, President of the Miami Metropolitan Museum of Art and a longtime member of the Miami Club and Riviera Country Club.
Ray and his family moved to P.G.A. National Community in 1993. He served on the Transition Committee, the Board of Governors and Eagleton Pointe Board at P.G.A. He was a member of First Presbyterian of North Palm Beach.
Ray played tennis almost 50 years, enjoyed sailing and biking and traveled to over 110 countries.

He is survived by his wife of 65 ½ years, "Bunny", daughters: Betsy Sherman and her husband Tom of Peachtree City, GA; Susan Steele and her husband, Andy of Houston, TX; son: William of Miami, FL; one grandson: Daniel Steele; three granddaughters: Ames Steele, Kimberly and Abbey Miller.

Graveside Services with Military Honors will be held at 10:15 AM on Friday, January 24, 2014, at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S. State Road7/US 441, Lake Worth, FL 33449. Please gather in Lane 5. A Memorial Service will held at 12:00 Noon on Friday at QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL, CREMATION & EVENT CENTER, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33417, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashiville, TN 37214 or www.gideons.org