Rae "Irv"

Rutherford Irvin Rae, Jr. (79), of Crescent City, FL, passed away on February 16, 2022 at home with family by his side. Irv, as he was known to everyone, is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of fifty-eight years, Elaine Hazlehurst, son Scott (Misti and Hayley Stephens), daughter Susan Kulley (Brian), grandson Scott Kulley (Courtney), granddaughter Sarah Allison Kulley, and great granddaughter Noelle Rae Kulley, who was born on his last birthday.
Irv was born in Jacksonville, FL on October 26, 1942, graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering. His twenty year engineering and construction career in the pulp and paper industry included positions at Rayonier, Jesup, GA, Montreal Central Engineering Division and the Port Cartier, Quebec mill. He also worked at the St. Regis Paper Company Corporate Engineering Division in Jacksonville, FL, and the St. Regis Paper Mill in Cantonment, FL.
At the age of 42, he purchased an electrical contracting company in Pensacola, FL, thus satisfying a life-long goal of being his own boss. His company completed numerous electrical construction projects for entities that included NASA, Department of Defense, Corps of Engineers, government agencies, and private corporations nationwide. After satisfying his entrepreneurial spirit, he sold the business and retired in 1995.
Irv served his community in multiple ways during the family's thirty year tenure in Pensacola. A Rotarian for forty years, he was awarded multiple Paul Harris Fellows. He was recognized for 100% attendance in the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club where he also served as president. He was slated to become District Governor of District 6940 when an untimely heart attack in 1997 changed those plans. Irv served Hospice of NW Florida as both a board member and president. He was on the board of Gulf Breeze Hospital for fifteen years and was chairman of the board for six. He also served on the boards of Pensacola Baptist Hospital and Jay Hospital. He was a member of the advisory committee for George Stone Electrical apprenticeship program.
A lifelong Episcopalian, he was a member of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Pensacola where he was a vestry member and a three term Senior Warden. Irv also served on the Bishop's Standing Committee.
He and Elaine moved to Crescent City, FL in 2005. There he was an honorary member of the Rotary Club, worked with Boys 2 Men mentoring program, and was a charter member of the Fruitland Peninsula Historical Society. He was a member of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and also attended the First Presbyterian Church, which he and Elaine felt to be their "second home." He had a love of animals and served on the board of the Animal Rescue Consortium in Crescent City.
Irv was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His family was his pride and joy. He and his wife spent many summers and holidays in their second home in Bellingham, WA, and later in Blairsville, GA, where they made wonderful memories with family and friends.
His personal commitment to Jesus Christ, his wife, and family was the light that guided his life. Inurnment of ashes will be in the family plot in Holy Cross Cemetery in Pensacola at a later date. A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Crescent City, FL. The Reverend Debra Henning will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Rescue Consortium of Crescent City, First Presbyterian Church of Crescent City, or Holy Comforter Episcopal Church of Crescent City. Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Crescent City.