Raymond Hart

Raymond Pate Hart, Jr., known to his loving family as "Monte," was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on the 28th of February 1968. He was the first-born son of Dr. Raymond Pate Hart, Sr. and Adriana Louise Longoria. He was the cherished grandson of Eduardo Longoria de Theriot and Dorothy Louise Kowalski Longoria and Dr. John Alexander Hart and Marjorie Edmunds Hart.

At birth, Raymond had a full head of curly blonde hair, foreshadowing his future nickname “The Silver Fox.” Even as a child, he was known for his dapper appearance with his shirt neatly tucked in, earning the additional nickname "Don Perfecto" from his mother.

Raymond's passion for ranching began early with fond memories of visiting “Rancherías” with his maternal grandfather. In the mid-1970s, his mother moved their family to Houston to be closer to her sister, Sylvia Longoria Dorsey, and her family. As the man of the house, Monte took pride in caring for his younger brother, Forrest, and his baby sister, “Adrianita.” He attended Briargrove Elementary School and Paul Revere Middle School in Houston.

Raymond attended eighth grade and high school at The Darlington School in Rome, Georgia before beginning his college career at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated from University of St. Thomas with a BBA in Economics and pursued an MBA at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas, where he cherished coveted time with his grandparents. Throughout his educational journey, he cultivated many lifelong friendships, demonstrating what it meant to be a trusted confidant.

Raymond moved to Los Angeles to work at Warner Brothers in the film industry. Upon missing his roots, he returned to Houston to work for Enron Corporation selling financial products to Latin America, aided by his fluent Spanish. His innate entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish MedServe, a medical waste disposal business, and later Apollo Heath Company. His most recent venture was Trilogy MedWaste, where he managed mergers and acquisitions. Raymond was a member of Second Baptist Church, Houston Country Club and Allegro.

Raymond was passionate about traveling, cooking, fishing, hunting, and most especially, playing the drums. He loved to laugh, and his laughter was contagious. However, his greatest passion of all was his family.

Raymond met the love of his life, Jennifer Moses, living in the same gated community. Their friendship blossomed over long walks and led to their storybook wedding on the 26th of May 2012, in Lyford Cay, Bahamas.

On the 3rd of February 2014, Raymond and Jennifer were blessed with a long-awaited child, James Pate Hart. In Raymond’s role as husband and father, his devotion to his family was constant and he prioritized his time to participate in all of James’ interests and activities. Raymond and Jennifer’s thirteen years of marriage were filled with many adventures, including travel to Israel to walk in the steps of Jesus, exploring the majestic coastline of California, fly-fishing in Paradise Valley, Montana, snorkeling in the Bahamas, and a most recent trip to New York City to celebrate James’ 11th birthday.

Raymond showed his family how to live life to the fullest by example, playing the role of son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and friend. Known for his quick wit, humility, and extraordinary kindness, he was beloved by all who knew him. A compassionate listener, Raymond made those around him feel appreciated and understood. These admired traits stemmed from his deep faith in Christ and grounded him throughout his entire life. His final act of generosity was the gift of life through organ donation.

Monte left this earth too soon, but he will live eternally in our hearts. He is survived by his steadfast wife, Jennifer Moses Hart; his son, James Pate Hart; his mother, Adriana Longoria; his father, Dr. Raymond Hart and wife Helen Hart; his brother, Forrest Hart; his sister, Adriana Monroe and husband Mark Monroe; his nieces and nephews, Graydon Hart, Jaxson Hart, Adriana Monroe, Tommy Holstead and Jean Holstead; his aunt, Sylvia Dorsey and husband Tommy Dorsey; his cousins, Elizabeth Fertitta and husband Zach Fertitta, Thomas Dorsey and wife Kristin Dorsey, and Wayo Dorsey and wife Catherine Dorsey; His uncles Wayo Longoria and Shelby Longoria and his wife Tita and their children; as well as his mother-in-law, Jeanne Moses, and his sister-in-law, Jill Holstead and husband Scott Holstead. Raymond is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Dr. John Hart and Marjorie Hart, his maternal grandparents Eduardo Longoria and Dorothy Longoria, and his father-in-law, Jimmy Moses.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Raymond from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 26th of February in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 27th of February, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. H. Edwin Young and Rev. John Barksdale are to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Deacon's Parlor.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in memory of Raymond Hart may be directed to the Navy SEAL Foundation, 1619 D Street Virginia Beach, VA 23459 or by visiting navysealfoundation.org/donate; Yellowstone Forever, P.O. Box 1857 Bozeman, MT 59771 or by visiting online at www.yellowstone.org; or The Winning Walk, P.O. Box 1660 Houston, TX 77251 or by visiting online at www.winningwalk.org.

Please visit Raymond’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.