Raymond Craig Findley

Raymond Craig Findley, the son of Vinson Grossman and Edith Burton Findley was born on March 6,1950 in Newton, Iowa. He grew up in the Maytag Company town until he graduated high school in 1968. After a short college stay, he decided to become a union Iron worker and traveled the United States and four foreign countries.

In 1982, Raymond survived an eighty-five foot fall that included three fatalities in a tragic nuclear plant accident in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The East Coast doctors told him that he would never walk again, and eventually transferred him to St. Joseph hospital to be closer to family at Diamondhead. Following a year long hospitalization, Raymond proved their prognosis wrong and miraculously walked again.

Two years later, he married Mitsy Martin in Hot Springs. Their path led to Phoenix, AZ. and the birth of their daughter and son. The Findley’s moved to Des Moines, Iowa allowing Raymond to work for the City of Clive, IA. Loving sports, he coached his children’s athletic teams and was a devoted Iowa Hawkeye and Iowa State Cyclone fan.

Raymond retired to Mitsy’s hometown, where he loved to boat on Lake Ouachita. He also enjoyed riding his UTV on the many trails surrounding their Bonnerdale home, which they fondly named Camp Findley.

On December 2, 2023, Raymond passed away at CHI-St Vincent Hot Springs surrounded by his loving family. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger sister, Randi Adey, of Hot Springs.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife Mitsy Martin Findley; daughters Kari Murphy Garcia of Arlington, TX and Haley Findley of Houston, TX; son, Martin Findley of Bonnerdale; grandchildren Graciela and Ale Garcia, Savannah Grace Vazquez, Nicole, Vinson, and Cheyenne Findley; brother Steven Findley of Peosta, Iowa; sister Susan Findley of Houston, TX; his wife’s twin Bitty Martin, and his trail guide & good friend Jonathon Decker; many cousins, nieces & nephews who said, the world will be a much duller place with out Raymond around.