Kootenai County ID Archives Obituaries.....Croteau, Raymond George July 19, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com August 9, 2005, 11:47 pm Coeur d'Alene Press - The Daily Bee Ray Croteau, 76 Raymond George Croteau, 76, passed away July 19, 2005, at his home in Hayden. Born Oct. 23, 1928, in Fitchburg, Mass., to George and Cecile Croteau, Ray grew up in Fitchburg and was a star pitcher and third baseman for Fitchburg High School. In his senior year, he was voted Most Valuable Player. In his youth, Ray was a serious weightlifter at the local YMCA and also enjoyed skiing and speed ice-skating. He was well-liked by many. Ray joined the Army in 1948 and was sent to Japan with the U.S. Occupation Forces. He was briefly assigned as a member of the honor guard to General Douglas McArthur. In 1950, he was sent to Korea. As an Army combat veteran of the Korean War, Ray served with the "Wolfhounds" 27th Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. The Army tasked him with documenting events and battles as a military photographer. Several of his photographs were published by the Associated Press and Life Magazine during the war. In civilian life over the years, Ray worked for the Boston and Maine and Santa Fe Railroads, owned and operated two gas stations, and operated his own paving business in Santa Barbara, Calif. He and his wife Ruth also resided for a time in Prescott, Ariz., and Sheridan, Wyo. Ray was a hard-worker and took joy in providing for his family along with enjoying outdoor activities in the mountains and at the beach. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Ruth, son and daughter-in-law, David and Karine Croteau, daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Kevin Foley, all of Hayden; daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Jon Vendela, Big Horn, Wyo.; sister and brother-in-law, Theresa and Robert Collette, Sacramento, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Carol Croteau, Eureka, Mont.; five grandchildren; one niece and four nephews. Memorial service will be 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene. Ray's life will also be celebrated by his family and relatives at a private gathering. Additional Comments: Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho Volunteer submission - No relation to the deceased. 09 August 2005 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/kootenai/obits/c/croteau173gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 2.7 Kb