He was "Big Ray."  When we were young, Ray was the largest man we had ever known.  I have a lot of memories of Big Ray and Cousin Maggie.  Here are my two favorites.

When my sister Ruby and I were about 7 and 8 years old, we were visiting La Junta with our folks, Richard and Gloria Lucero.  Our parents had to go somewhere and left me and my sister at Maggie's and Ray's for a couple of hours.  It was a beautiful summer day but Big Ray was so protective of us that he refused to let us move from our chairs in the living room and kept us locked inside until my folks got back.   He couldn't let anything happen to Richard's girls, he said.  

Years later, Cousin Maggie and Big Ray came to my folks house in Lakewood to visit.  Maggie and Ray were living in Denver by then.  Big Ray brought beer and his 40s.  He needed to keep it all cold, so he emptied out the food in the refrigerator.  My mom said, "Who put all the food on the counter!?!"  We said, "Big Ray.  He needed room for the beer."  This memory always makes me smile.  And I know when I am very old and have forgotten almost everything, I will remember Big Ray and his smile that day.

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OBITUARY

Raymond M. Ramirez

August 31, 1933 – April 22, 2019

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Highland

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