Raymond DeMoss

1947 - 2015

Raymond Thomas DeMoss

Arcadia-A celebration in honor of the life of Ray DeMoss, age 67, will be held 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Arcadia with Rev. Jeff Hoffman and Dr. Glen Owens officiating. Interment will follow at the Arcadia cemetery under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home of Arcadia.

Visitation will be held Monday from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Ray was born October 17, 1947 in Ruston, LA to Raymond and Anne Collins DeMoss, and entered into rest Saturday, May 30, 2015. He was a life-long resident of Arcadia, and a member of First Baptist Church where he was ordained a deacon. After graduating from Arcadia High School, he attended LA Tech and graduated in 1970 with a degree in Agricultural Business. He wished to be self-employed and live in Arcadia so he established his own business known as DeMoss Greenhouse. At age 24, he built two 4,000 square foot greenhouses and began growing chrysanthemums. In 1971 his cousin, George Edwards, joined the business. Together, the DeMoss-Edwards partnership expanded into 12 greenhouses occupying over an acre. The operation grew pot mums, poinsettias, Easter lilies, azaleas, tulips, hydrangeas and kalanchoes serving retail and commercial outlets in Louisiana, South Arkansas and East Texas.

After 20 years in the business, Ray sold his interest to his partner and began working for Yoder Brothers as a salesman and consultant.

He loved the investment world and especially the gold market. He was featured in the magazine "Smart Money". He served on several boards relating to the greenhouse business as well as the Don Wilton Evangelistic Association and the Northwestern State University Athletic Association.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Anne Collins DeMoss and Chloe Beard Murphy, a special mother-in-law to him.

Left to cherish his memory are sons, Thomas Morrison DeMoss and wife Cindy Miller DeMoss of Chattanooga, TN; Ken Todd DeMoss and wife Amanda Walpole DeMoss of Ruston, LA; sister, Carolyn DeMoss Beatty and husband Stewart of Heflin, LA; and Marcia Murphy DeMoss, Mother of his two sons.

Grandchildren are Tabitha, Colin, and Eli DeMoss of Chattanooga, TN and Murphy and Davis DeMoss of Ruston, LA.

Honoring Ray as pallbearers are Jerry Callender, George Edwards, Ronnie Edwards, Gary Gantt, Ken Murphy, Randall Murphy, Danny Schilling and Joe Storey with honorary pallbearers being deacons of First Baptist Church Arcadia.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Arcadia.

The family would like to thank Leslie Lakes Retirement Center, Northern LA Medical Center ICU Department, and Premier Hospice Care for the services provided during his illness and the many friends that gave comfort to the family.