Raymond A. Crucet

Our beloved Raymond A. Crucet of Sarasota, Florida passed away in the early morning hours on Saturday, March 4, 2023. He was under in-home hospice care and died peacefully with his wife, Sharon, and devoted caregiver, Sarah, by his side.

Ray was born in New York City on August 12, 1933. When he was a toddler he was whisked away to the Panama Canal Zone where his father worked for the U.S. Government. He spent his childhood in “paradise” as he described it in a melting pot of many cultures that shaped his future. He left Panama at 18 for education and a career stateside.

Ray served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958 after being drafted. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958 to 1962. He served at Ft. Bliss, Texas in special training for missile fire control electronics technician, after which he was assigned to missile outfit in West Germany as Computer Radar Maintenance Chief. He attained rank of Sergeant before completion of military obligation with honorable discharge.

Ray’s education was an A.A. in Electrical Engineering at Montgomery College in Maryland. He also had a B.S. in Industrial Management at Lawrence Institute of Technology in Michigan and an MBA from Michigan State University in the Advanced Management Program.

After college, Ray had a successful marketing, advertising and PR career within the International Aerospace, Marine and Defense Industries. He retired in 2000.

Ray and Sharon married in 1987 and spent 10 years together before that. Ray was a wonderful husband who was always kind, caring and loving. We took care of my mother after her stroke in ‘97’ for 16 years and between the two of us, never left her alone.

Ray enjoyed his time in Sarasota where he was able to enjoy things he enjoyed most family, sailing, golf and the performing arts which since 2001 including many shows he was in at the Players Theater, the Asolo Theater Company, the Banyan Theater Group, Florida Studio Theater, Venice Little Theater, Players Follies/Sarasota Silver Stars, Sarasota Senior Theater and the Asolo Guild Readers.

Ray was the love of my life. He always had a smile for everyone and there was not a stranger he didn’t find interesting. Ray made me laugh and cared about making sure I would be alright. He will have a place in my heart forever!

Ray was predeceased by his mother, father and brother, Arthur. He is survived by his two sons from a previous marriage, Ray Crucet Jr. and wife, Stella and Tony Crucet; two granddaughters, Nadia and Lucy; dear sister-in-law, Suzanne Crouch and his sunshine, our caregiver who is like family and we both love her, Sarah. He is also survived by half-brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, family and friends and the many people who touched our lives.

Ray sang this song to mom, me and Sarah, who always had a beautiful smile on her face, so he called her sunshine. Now this is for you Ray. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You made me happy when skies were grey. You'll never know, dear, how much I loved you. God took my sunshine away."

I love you and miss you so much! Sharon

There will be a committal service, with military honors, for Raymond on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 10:00am, at Sarasota National Cemetery. A reception will follow from 12:00pm - 2:00pm at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Avenue, in Sarasota.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Crucet family.