"I don't know where to begin. I have always loved this man as if he were my own dad. Uncle Ray was very near and dear to my heart. I don't think God made another man like him. He was so unique in so many ways. He was always fun, loving, and full of mischief in a good way. Always teasing and making life feel worthwhile. He will be forever missed and with a heavy heart, I wish him a journey home with lots of angels around him. I hope that in heaven the lord will put him in a room full of children and he will entertain them til we meet him in Heaven. God Speed I love you"
In loving memory of
Ray L. Carlisle, Sr.
May 27, 1928 - July 20, 2014
Ray L. Carlisle, Sr., 86, a resident of Pembroke Pines, Florida for the past 45 years, passed away July 20, 2014, following a brief illness.
Visitation will be held at Fred Hunter Funeral Home on Saturday, August 9, 2014, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. with a memorial service at 2:00 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at the Ft. Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, 1527 SW 1st Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. www.antiquecarmuseum.org
Ray was born in McComb, Mississippi, on May 27, 1928, the seventh of nine children of James Lemuel and Edna Irene Blailock Carlisle. He was a fireman for the McComb Fire Department and worked at the Fernwood Box & Crate Company, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth. Ray was a member of the Mississippi National Guard; his unit was activated during the Korean War and he served in the Army for two years. He was a member of the American Legion.
Ray worked as a machinist/tool and die maker for Croft Aluminum Company in McComb for 14 years. In 1969 he was hired by Keller Industries, an aluminum manufacturing plant in Miami, and moved his family to Hollywood, Florida. He traveled extensively to Keller facilities across the country, troubleshooting, designing and building manufacturing machines. While at Keller, he invented and was awarded a patent for a "gusset plate for frame members" (corner clip for aluminum windows and doors). After Keller, he worked for Pan American Aluminum Company and Sternco International, returning to Keller and retiring in 1995.
He was an avid collector, having many interests. He was particularly fond of clocks, which he collected and was in many instances able to repair. Ray had a vast knowledge of how things worked, and if something was broken, he either knew or could figure out how to fix it.
Ray was a loving and caring son, husband, father, grandfather, friend and neighbor. He was always there to lend a hand to anyone. As a neighbor and close family friend wrote, "There is nothing he would not do for you and absolutely nothing that he 'could not' do. He was more than our neighbor; he was family." Another close family friend wrote, Ray was "a truly special man. Selfless, compassionate, considerate, patient and loyal."
Ray is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Travis Carlisle; daughter, Barbara Carlisle Sanchez (Miguel "Mike"), Plantation, FL; son, Ray L. Carlisle, Jr. (Marylou Giraud), Pembroke Pines, FL; five grandchildren: Christopher Ray Carlisle, Cleveland, TN; Ashley Beth Carlisle, Pembroke Pines, FL; Adrianna Nicole Carlisle, Pembroke Pines, FL; Jon-Michael Ray Sanchez, Boynton Beach, FL; and Matthew Travis Sanchez, Sunrise, FL; brother, Howard Carlisle, Clinton, MS; sister, Lucille Carlisle Richardson, McComb, MS; numerous nieces and nephews; and his dog, Little Bit.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Ed, Emmitt, Irvin, and Robert "Pete" and sisters Julia Mae Carlisle Montgomery and Anna Lee Carlisle Hill.
Tributes
"I am so, so very sad to lose my dear friend, Ray. I would love to tell him how much he means to me and thank him for the countless favors he did for us through the years. Heaven is an even better place with Ray there. And, I know his pal Butch was there to meet him! Ray was such a wonderful man and was a terrific, caring, close friend to my late husband, Butch, and me for so many years. Absolutely just like family. Butch idolized him and always wanted to visit his pal, Ray Carlisle. I am convinced that Ray bought more than he needed of the products Butch was selling just so Butch could meet his quota for the week. I bet there was a stockpile in Ray's garage. I have so many fond memories of those days in South Florida, and Ray played a big part in it. And, he was such a great support for us after Butch's accident left him in a wheelchair. If anything was broken, Ray could and did fix it. If something needed to be done, he was always there and happy to help us out. He even helped bury our beloved dog, Tuesday, when none of us could do it. What a treasure to have a friend like Ray Carlisle. I could go on and on with how wonderful Ray was, but his family and friends already know that. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with all of you always. And, I love you all so very much. Love, Bonnie"
"My husband was telling me that he would see Mr. Carlisle at the thrift store occasionally. This particular time Ray Sr. Picked up a pair of boots and my husband was hoping he was going to put them down but, sadly he didn't. Next time we met up with them all at The bar b q Ray Jr. Was wearing them."
"I am sorry about your loss. My words may not bring the comfort to your aching heart so please allow me to share with you what you will definitely find very promising in God's Word, the Bible; Revelation 21: 3 and 4 that says that the tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people and God himself will be with them and he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. So, please rest assured that your loved one is not feeling any pain and that he is simply sleeping awaiting to be resurrected. May these promises from Jehovah God give you the strength and fortitude to endure these difficult times to deal with. Please let me tell you that when my beloved mother passed away, I thought I was not going to be able to cope with the pain, sorrow, or the sad current reality of not having her with me any longer but I found "Prayer" (honest heart felt communication with our Creator), of such a big help because it soothed my pain and gave me the confidence that God also suffers for us and that whatever he promised us, he will deliver very soon. Please put your trust in Jehovah God and just a little longer and the wicked will be no more ... and the righteous will possess the earth and they will live forever on it (Psalm 37: 10, 11 and 29). We shall see back our beloved ones and live with them in paradise earth forever and ever. Amen."
"Ray, Jr. received this text message from our cousin, Greg Hill, when Dad was in the hospital and we learned the diagnosis. Used with his permission. "Floored man...speechless except for meaningless stuff I could say...tell you this tho mom flat out loved who she called her little brother (as everybody else knows him does) & something I recognized & noticed & thought a lot about since the 80's when he went to a Valley hardware w/me in CT & he couldn't believe this store out of the 40's still existed. The people working there started listening to him & followed him around until we left...at Dave Slusher's garage I saw the same thing from the bunch that hangs around Dave's place all day..like they're in the presence of Moses or George Jones or somebody ...I don't go 3 months w/out that crossing my mind..never seen that before ever...people just love him...Amazing, really. While I'm thinkin about it let me add this thought which again isn't the first time I've had it. We talk a lot about this or that one is or was a great guy or more seriously a great man but usually we're just throwin around words mindlessly really. It's occurred to me more than once that Uncle Ray just might be the only great man I ever knew. I'm still not capable of defining why it's true; I just realized some years back that it seems to be a fact." "
"Uncle Ray was the sunshine in my life. He made time for his entire family as a very young man. He loved each member of his family and regardless of his work schedule there would be time to visit those of us who cared so much for him. He worked hard to care for his family as a young man without complaints. He truly loved his mother and eventually souls meet Elizabeth who would become the love of his life. As a small child Uncle Ray would take me to Elizabeth's family home to visit evenings. I would sit on the front steps of her home and enjoy the blues being played near by. I, to this day, enjoy the blues. I especially will never forget his love for whichever dog was in his life at the time. How he loved his dogs including Little Bit, the most current small dog. He worked evenings at the local college instructing wood work. I will never forget the evening he came in with handmade beautiful stilts he had made me. They had rubber tips on the end. The countless drives he took me on and Loretta on. There were well lit bars in the area on those evening drives and Uncle Ray, without fail, would ask Loretta "what is that place?" Loretta always said "it's a honky tonk" bringing laughter to Uncle Ray. That would occur each drive and to this day I hear the laughter in his voice. His last visit to Jefferson County he left telling those of us with concern in his voice " take care of Loretta." he truly loved his family. In 2013 when we went out to dinner and it was a cash only policy unknown as Uncle Ray tried to pay the check. David went to cover the check and Uncle Ray told David "I am going to beat your ---." he then burst into laughter. David still is amused to this day, maybe it was one of those "have to be there moments." My child hood is full of memories that could go on and on. One especially is that when he was very young he enjoyed having a lamp on behind a backdrop of a white bed sheet. He would then provide a show behind the backdrop which never matched up to the humor of getting the entire stage set. His mind was always at work. He loved his mother as she did him. Uncle Ray, I know your reunion with your family who had gone on before you has been a joyous occasion. 2Corinthians 5-8 tells us of the joy of being absent from the body is to present with the Lord. Our Gracious Father, thanks for providing Uncle Rays to children's lives. He had such a loving spirit that would never cease to be forgotten. Thanks for ending his pain, something a body should not have to endure for a long length of time. Please comfort his family, his extended family and and his countless friends."
"RIP Uncle Ray"
"I will always remember Uncle Ray as a fun loving,caring and special man.I will never forget growing up around his special outlook on life and family.Although my heart breaks now having to see him leave this world I pray that I will see him again in heaven.Words are hard to say now because he was so special to all of us who had the privilege to know and love him but to be able to say he was family is truly a blessing ..I pray for my Aunt Bet ,Ray Jr,and Barbara that they find peace and know that you are all loved beyond measure...Rest in Peace Uncle Ray till we meet again,I LOVE YOU!!!"