Raymond Francis Horath, known to many as Ray and to some as the Blue-Eyed Soul Brother, Doc, or All the Way Ray (or as he introduced himself to that taxi driver in Uruguay – Ramon), passed away on September 3, 2026, at the age of 72.
Ray was born on August 26, 1954, at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Chicago, IL – which he loved to point out every single time our family drove past it on 90/94. He grew up in the St. Killian’s parrish on the South Side of Chicago in a home filled with laughter and love. His true saint of a mother to three boys – the twins Ray and Richie and 18 months their senior, Jimmy – Judy’s strictest moments were when she in her words, “would beat them with a feather.” They grew up playing pick-up games with neighborhood kids, who remained friends until his death. He’ll be dearly missed on their yearly golf trip at the end of the month. Ray played football, baseball and basketball at Mt. Carmel, a school he was proud to have attended – he always wore his Our Lady of Mt. Carmel scapular.
He was a hard-working man, who loved to stay busy. He started at a young age:cutting grass when he could barely see over the lawnmower; selling Christmas trees and Mickey Mouse balloons; and landscaping at the Chicago Park District, overseen by his dad, Frank, the Chief Horticulturist of Chicago. He swept Oreo crumbs at the Nabisco plant and worked at a tool and dye factory to save up enough money to attend Northern Illinois University, where he played rugby and was a TKE, with his brother and several guys from neighborhood, coming home during the summers to the tune of “The Boys Are Back In Town” to play 16 inch softball with the Father Perez Knights of Columbus team. It was at NIU, that he met the love of his life, Joyce, who would become his wife of 45 years. She was reading a book by the pool and moments later Ray was tossing her in – they have been together ever since.
Joyce and Ray were married in 1981 and moved all the way down to a tiny farm town, Beecher, Illinois, the same year. They bought a beautiful farm house and 13 acres of land, surrounded by a creek, and celebrated with a barn painting party. This started a lifelong love of Labrador Retrievers, from Sara and Chelsey to Scout, Bomber, and Sadie, and his beloved Maizie. He took to country life quickly, baling hay, plowing snow on his John Deere tractor, taking care of the horses, and endlessly tinkering on projects.
Once Darcy and Bryce were born, a whole new chapter began – Ray was truly made to be a father. He was the most selfless, patient, loving Dad there could be, Darcy and Bryce’s lives were filled with silly jokes, Dance of the Days, thoughtful advice and support, and a steady reliability from him that never wavered. Even though he traveled often throughout his successful sales career at BASF, Millennium Chemicals, and FP Pigments, he never missed a dance recital, team practice, or a big game. He was a kind and caring soccer, basketball, and baseball coach to Darcy and Bryce and so many other kids. He cared less about wins and more about giving kids confidence, skills and the sense of teamwork- although he did lead Bryce’s 8th grade baseball team to the championship after an eight year drought! Marian Catholic High School even gave him the mic to announce Bryce’s football games from the press box, which he loved.
As the kids got older, their relationships with Ray only grew. He loved to travel and to meet new people and learn new cultures and took his family on incredible trips all around the world, including Europe, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Bora Bora, Fiji, and more. He nurtured Darcy’s budding interest in the restaurant community by taking her to Alinea for her birthday (even though he did say . . . “aren’t foodies supposed to be able to cook?!”) and they shared many meals, talking about their lives. He and Bryce were best friends, talking on the phone almost daily about business, life, and anything else. They always had a good time working on home projects, catching up on the golf course, or in the stands at a ball game.
Ray’s love only grew as his family did, welcoming his son-in-law Frank into the fold with a wedding speech that called him not only family, but a true friend. His grandsons, Remi and Beau, were the light of his life. He gave them both a love of baseball and took them on their very special “Gentlemen’s Breakfasts,” where they would wear suits and talk about what it means to be a true gentleman. He taught them that the best way to decorate Christmas cookies is with lots of extra sprinkles, he taught Remi how to waterski this summer, and he was a mystery reader at Beau’s preschool this spring, much to the delight of the whole class.
Ray found so much joy in the simple things in life. Playing golf, cheering for the White Sox or the Bears, going out on the boat, hunting for seaglass, his daily Wordle, and weekly trivia with his infamous team the Cootie Killers. He loved to grill and he made a mean ossobuco. Mostly, Ray loved people – talking to them, learning about them, making them feel at ease. Aside from being remembered for his bright blue eyes and big smile, Ray will be remembered as someone who could always be counted on and who always made you feel better after a conversation with him. And his love came back to him in spades – he was a truly beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, colleague, and friend. He will be greatly, greatly missed, but we know that he is with us always in our hearts, in our laughs, and in a beautiful Lake Michigan sunset.
Services: will be held on Tuesday, September 8 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 100 St. Peter Drive, Douglas, MI 49406. A visitation will be at 10am with a mass following at 11am. Burial will be in the Riverside – Saugatuck Cemetery. A luncheon at Saugatuck Brewery will be held afterwards. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an organization where Ray volunteered and cared deeply about: Children First Lakeshore (https://childrenfirstlakeshore.org/), an organization that helps feed the kids of Allegan County affected by food insecurity and hunger.
Arrangements are by Dykstra Funeral Homes – Saugatuck Chapel.
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