Raymond Franklin Sharkey

RAYMOND FRANKLIN SHARKEY MAR 9, 1918 - SEP 12, 2010 Raymond Sharkey, 92, died September 12, 2010, at Memorial North Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born March 9, 1918 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to parents Mike and Ruth Sharkey. Ray's childhood and young adulthood were filled with helping out on his folks' farm, basketball, football, and lots of music. He enjoyed singing with his siblings, dancing at local dances and even played drums in a local band. Ray joined the Army in May of 1941 and was Honorably Discharged following the end of World War II in 1946. He married Lois Scott on February 12, 1944. Their first daughter, Darla Rae was born in 1947 and their second daughter, Kristi Renee was born in 1961. They purchased a farm in Waterford, California in 1957 where they raised their family and lived until the present. Ray and Lois were busy parents attending piano recitals, basketball games, 4-H Meetings, Rainbow Girls' events, and a multitude of school functions. After they became empty nesters, they were able to travel many places in their motor home, started the Modesto Ballroom Dance Club, continued to support the Waterford 4-H Club, and were active members in the Waterford Community Baptist Church. Ray loved playing golf, telling jokes, and had never met a stranger, but most of all he loved his family. He lost the love of his life, Lois, in 2008 and would constantly remind his family that he intended to enjoy his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren every day that he spent on this earth but that someday he would go on to be with Lois and other dearly departed family members. Raymond is survived by his daughters, their husbands, and seven grandchildren (Rich and Darla Frazier of Los Angeles and their children: Kendra Carman and her husband Douglas, Judd Frazier, Darcie Ridgeway and her husband Jason, Gabriel Frazier and his wife Marchelle, and Ashley Atkinson and her husband Charles.) (Ed and Kristi Rapinchuk of Waterford and their children Lauren and Heather Rapinchuk.) Ray's four great grandchildren all reside in Los Angeles: Kathleen and Connor Carman and Aiden and Jude Frazier. Raymond is also survived by his sister, Jaxine Ritchie of Guthrie Center, Iowa and his brother-in-law Lester Jorgensen also of Guthrie Center, Iowa. Preceding him in death are his beloved wife, Lois Roberta Scott Sharkey, his brother Jerald Sharkey and wife Adele of Waterford, CA, hissister Margaret Jorgensen of Guthrie Center, Iowa and his brother-in-law Willard Ritchie of Guthrie Center, Iowa. Raymond will be greatly missed by his family and friends alike. Visitation will be held friday 17th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m at Lakewood Funeral Home and the Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 18th at 11:00 a. m. at Lakewood Funeral Home in Hughson. All memorials may be sent to www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp. www.modbee.com/obituaries