Ray Franklin Brown

Mr. Ray F Brown Sr. died peacefully at home on July 17th in Brandon Florida at the age of 92. He was a Baptist and a 32nd degree Mason. He was cremated at his request.
Ray is survived by his wife of 42 years Nahyr Brown, his ex-wife of 20 years Evelyn Brown, his children Barbara Cruz (Eli), Ray Brown (Trish), his sister Faye Register, his grandchildren Caleb Cruz (Tori), Savannah Berridge (Travis) and Baylee Rae Brown, great grandchildren Hannah Cruz, Miri Cruz, Boaz Berridge and Silas Berridge. He also had 20 nieces and nephews and 20 first cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents Foye and Tillman Brown, his sister Ruth Carswell and her husband Lex Carswell as well as brother in-law Norman Register, niece Judy Finch, mother in-law Ursula Torres, sister in-law Ivelisse Ortiz and brother in-law Jose A. Ortiz.
Ray was born on November 14th, 1932, in Holmes County Florida. He graduated from Poplar Springs High school in 1950. He also attended South Alabama University and St Petersburg college.
Ray worked as an apprentice iron worker before joining the US Army and becoming a military policeman and non-commissioned officer in Germany during the Korean war. Once out of the service, he lived and worked on a large dredge boat as a fireman, oilman and marine engineer in South Carolina. He then began what would be a long career in the United States Postal Service. He moved to Jacksonville Florida and processed mail on trains and buses until that process ended. He then joined the Management Trainee Program at the post office. This led him to move to Panama City Florida in 1970 to be a mid level manager at that post office. He then moved to St Petersburg Florida in 1972 and worked as a top level manager until he retired after a total of 34 years with the postal service.
Once retired he enjoyed many years mostly traveling with his wife and reading. He traveled to all 50 states and at least 10 countries. He enjoyed watching sports including baseball, football and auto racing. Being raised on a farm, his love of animals followed him his entire life. Over the years he had chickens, turkeys and several dogs.
Ray was a devoted son to his parents. When in the Army, he sent money to his parents so they could purchase their first home instead of renting. In later years, he bought the same property from his parents so they could have more money to enjoy their retirement.
Ray will be eternally missed by his family as he was a great example of what a man should be. He always tried to do the right thing in life and taught many people around him what a true professional was. He also had a lighter side, and his sense of humor was very dry with a quick wit which made conversations with him entertaining. He loved learning and read hundreds of books in retirement to keep his mind sharp.
Graveside service for Ray will be 10 a.m., CDT at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Graceville Florida.