Raymond McGeorge Obituary

Diane, I only met Ray once but that was good. Miss working with & knowing Bryan. I found out about his passing through Fred Herrera of Christian Record Services. Ray's work is completed on this earth but memories will continue.

One of my favorite moments at convention was when Diane told us, while giving out a door prize, that "Ray McGeorge did NOT like the Dallas Cowboys." I've heard so many great stories in the past few weeks, and I'm just not ready for them to stop. I hope everyone will continue to share their wonderful memories of this remarkable man that we were all so lucky to know.

Ray was a blessing to this organization, and to me as a young woman first coming to learn about the Federation. He was a dear and kindly gentleman whose good work is reflected in the hearts and lives of many. We will miss him, but cherish his memory and celebrate his life. I am glad Diane will be joining us at convention so that she may be surrounded by the loving support of the organization she and Ray helped to build.

Ray, I know you're in a better place, hard as that is to imagine. If there is anything I can do for Diane... always willing

Dear Diane,

I am sorry to hear of your loss. While I did not know Ray very well I felt compelled to write.

You both were customers of mine at Paradise Cleaners. I remember Ray getting his sight back and then losing it again, too.

I just wanted you to know that I have always kept you in my thoughts and prayers and the community and people really do care.

God Bless!

At the memorial service I heard about all of Ray's involvement with the NFB and CCB, but almost nothing about his work at the machine shop. A gentleman said he had no idea what a turret lathe was. I worked with Ray 40 years ago, when he taught me how to operate his lathe. I don't think people understand how dangerous his work was. I still have a 1" scar on my forearm from a very large drill bit on his very machine. He ran the lathe during the day, and I ran it at night. Picture a heavy machine 4 1/2 feet high and 6 to 7 feet long, with a very large motor at the left and a pivoting horizontal wheel to the right, bristling with drills and sharp cutters. He clamped round metal blanks in sharp steel jaws on the left that revolved at several hundred rpm. Making it even more risky was the steady flow of soluble oil and water cooling the tools as the metal was drilled, reamed, and cut into shape on their way to becoming gears. I still recall the smell of the oil and how it could spray all over the place if misdirected, making everything slippery. Mostly he cut brass and steel gear blanks from the raw castings, but sometimes we machined openings in gear housings too. Those were aluminum boxes about 7" square, and if too much was cut at once, one could fly out of the machine in a most dangerous way. I never heard of him in an accident. He was too methodical and careful for that. He never said a harsh word, although I must have driven him crazy at first. It didn't occur to me that he had a very orderly way of putting the tooling away in the cabinet. Being sighted, it wasn't so important to me, but it must have slowed him down until one day he politely asked me to follow his method. I was embarrassed, and of course I did. I also still remember him walking into the shop one morning after his sight was restored. He was waving a magazine and proudly saying, "I still remember how to read." He then had to shut his eyes while working, though, because it was all too distracting. I asked him what most impressed him about having his vision back. He paused a moment and slowly said, "I didn't realize how tall my boys were." He was a most impressive man. For the last two years now, I've volunteered at Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic as a sort of payback for him having taught me well when I was a young man. Although I haven't seen him for years and years, he left his mark. I'll miss him too.

Dearest Diane,
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I have known you both for over 45 years and you were such an integral part of my life for so so long. Unfortunately not so much in the past few years. You and Ray were always there for me and mine when I needed someone and I will never forget that. Ray was such a good and loving man and so soft spoken. The Federation and this world have suffered a great loss but are so much better for having had him in them.
Love you,
Bev

Dear Diane; Ray was such a part of my childhood memories. Playing with Skip and Brian. The wonderful train set, the smell of his pipe and his wonderful voice. He will be missed my so many people. Love you Diane.

I wonder how many people passed Ray walking down a street, in a store, or sat next to him (and Diane) at a restaurant, not knowing that if they had simply said hello, they would have met a wonderful human being…and probably an instant friend. When Ray spoke with his calming, deep voice, he would put even a stranger at ease in a heartbeat. Whether he was telling one of his stories or a joke or giving advice, it was time well spent and a joy to listen to him.

For the fortunate of us who did meet, talk with, and love you Ray, we are beholden to you…for being a man of grace who gave your devoted love to Diane and your family, and willingly shared your goodness and strength with the rest of us. May God bless you and keep you safe by His side.

Marsha Dyer, Baltimore, Maryland

Dear Diane,
I will share this with your class this week. My thoughts have been with you the past couple of weeks and I wish you well. Hope to hug you soon.

My heart is broken today, to learn the passing of a big, big man.Named Ray McGeorge. I knew Ray most as a little boy, at a time when my mother and I needed a friend the most. there stood Ray and his wife Diane.I will always remeber Ray's deep baritone voice and the soft gentle way about him. I read earlier in this quest book someone say, "Ray was a mentor and a friend". In deed, he most certainly was. You see, one of Ray's gift's was his ability to plant little seeds in the hearts and minds of those he cared for the most, friends and family alike; and watch them germinate and grow. Ray was a caring and loving man. He was very understanding and seemed to always make make people find reasonable solutions to their problems in his own quiet way. My thoughts and prayers are with you Diane. Ray was a great man! He will be sorely missed!! Love always! William Hudson AKA "Little Billy"(Highlands Ranch Colorado)

I will keep Ray's big deep voice in my heart always. Although I am not able to physically be by your side, my thoughts and prayers are with you, Diane.

Dear Diane and family- my thoughts and prayers are with you. I have many happy memories of you and Ray when you both would come to visit at my folks house when you were in school. My brother Kenneth & Ray were good friends and a good friend to you also. God bless you at this time and always. Love Beverly Morton Cronstedt

Dear Diane and family,
I am sorry for your loss of Ray. I only met him a few times over the years, but am well aware of all his contributions. You are in my thoughts.

I am heart-broken by the loss of Ray McGeorge. Ray and Diane were always so dear to me. We always had the same thoughts as to what our blind friends were capable of accomplishing.

If Ray only knew how much his influence helped me during my years of transcribing Braille.

I was so pleased to be in on the day he got his sight restored (if only temporarily).

Ray will always be with us. My love to you Diane.

It is hard to believe I won't hear that deep rumbling voice again--but I hear it in my mind and my heart, so I know it won't ever be truly gone. And it is in so very many of our minds and hearts, is it any wonder he seemed so gigantic? I miss Ray. I will never forget Ray. I am so lucky to have gotten to know him. I love you both.

Ray was a mentor and a friend. I will miss him. He was a great man and the blind of the nation are mourning our loss of a great man and leader.

Ray we love you and will miss you. We know that you are in a better place. We know that your spirit is still with us and will guide us for years to come. We thank you for all of the gifts that you have given us.

Love Jeremiah

Ray will be greatly missed not only by his family, friends and NFB colleagues, but also the greater community of living beings who knew him as a brilliant, loving, compassionate, joyful, generous and grounded man.