Frank Ray McCormick

Frank “Ray” McCormick, age 79, El Paso, passed away accompanied by his loving wife Rachel and daughter Renee on Tuesday, January 19 after bravely fighting a prolonged illness. He was born in Las Vegas, NM, the son of Frances R. McCormick and Frances J. McCormick. He was married to the love of his life, Rachel. Ray attended Ysleta High School where he was a member of the powerful Ysleta High School 1951 District Champion football team with his good friend Jesse Whittenton. Both Ray and Jesse were chosen for the All State Football team that year in their respective positions. During his senior year, he again started at guard for several games until he was stricken with Polio, but despite his illness, he miraculously returned to play before the end of the football season to earn a letter. Ray’s popularity led to his election as Vice President of his senior class and was also selected for the National Honor Society. He graduated from Texas Western (now UTEP) where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering in 1958. Ray served as El Paso County Engineer from 1965-1969 and was instrumental in completing Transmountain Road and Chamizal National Monument. He ultimately formed his highly successful McCormick Construction Company from which he eventually retired in 1989. Ray was a humble, private man who cherished the natural world of animals. He and Rachel were well known for their menagerie of exotic animals on their Lower Valley estate. They were particularly fond of their extensive parrot collection which included many species of macaws, cockatoos, many varieties of Australian and Southeast Asian parakeets and Amazon parrots. Exotic pheasants, Guinea fowl, African crowned cranes, and peacocks roamed their beautiful estate for all to enjoy. In later years, his enthusiasm for birds expanded to domestic and exotic waterfowl. Over the years, exotic mammals like red kangaroos, wallabies, alpacas, fallow deer, and “Joe” the camel were fabulous attractions for friends and visitors alike. Their home was always filled with less exotic, more “mundane creatures” like their precious dogs, Crystal and Bruno, who enjoyed their trips to their condo in Ruidoso. Ray and Rachel enjoyed traveling the world following their retirement. Fishing trips to Alaska , birding trips to Australia, New Zealand, and South America, adventurous excursions to Copper Canyon in Mexico, and sightseeing trips to Europe, the Nordic nations, and cruises to the Persian Gulf to take in the great sights of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ray was comfortable in the presence of political dignitaries such as U.S. Presidents, state governors, and local dignitaries, yet he embraced his friends who were less fortunate than him. As has been said about many great men, “He could hang his hat in anyone’s home.” Ray was a very generous man and true to his love and animals, he was a major contributor to the El Paso Zoo. He also served on the Board of Directors of the El Paso Zoological Society as he helped guide the El Paso Zoo toward its latest enhancements. Ray is survived by his dear wife, Rachel, and his two daughters, Sabrina (Craig) Pogorzelski and Renee (Ken) Mitchell, all of El Paso; and 3 grandchildren, Jonathan R. Mitchell, Daniel N. Mitchell, and Heather R. Pogorzelski, and his step-brother, Skip McCormick. Donations in Ray’s name may be made to the El Paso Zoological Society to continue the El Paso Zoo’s recent wonderful enhancement programs. El Paso Zoological Society, 4001 E. Paisano Dr., El Paso, TX 79905-4223. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 9:00pm on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at Hillcrest Funeral Home. Chapel Service will be at 10:00am on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Hillcrest Funeral Home East. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery. Service under the direction of HILLCREST FUNERAL HOME 1060 Carolina 598-3332.