Rev. Raymond A. De Does (88) went home to be with his Lord on Saturday morning, June 22, 2024. Ray was born on January 12, 1936, to William and Nelle De Does in Kalamazoo, MI.
He was ordained on June 28, 1961. Ray's first church charge was in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While there he also served as the Director of Youth Ministry. Ray and his first wife Frances spent 5 years serving at a church in Florida. For the next 10 years they served at a church in Corona California. Ray and his first wife Frances came to Calvary Reformed Church in 1982. They had two children, Kristan Verveniotis (Paul) and son Matt. While serving at Calvary they discovered Frances had cancer and she later passed away.
In 1990 he met Hilda who had five daughters, Cheryl Van Duyn (Marty), Crystal Parkinson (Tony), Pamela Delmercado (Joel), Debbie Martin and Lori Nicolavo. After leaving Calvary, Ray and Hilda spent a few years at a church in South Haven, Ml and then the RCA called them to be Executive Directors of the Synod of the Far West. They moved to Southern California and served about 85 churches in many ways for seven years. Traveling over eleven states was a great adventure led by the Lord.
In 2001 Ray was interim Pastor for the Turlock and Manteca Presbyterian Churchs as well as Church of the Cross in Modesto. While Ray was Chaplain at Bethany Home, they were asked by First CRC to consider Ministry for Seniors. He was grateful for a variety of ministry throughout the years. Ray loved Preaching and Teaching; he always had a weekly list of visits he made. The verse that meant so much to them was Jeremiah 29:11 “for I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord, to give you a future and hope.” More to know about Ray, he loved the game of golf. He started playing golf at twelve years old and played golf until he could no longer walk the course.
His surviving siblings are Mary, Jim, Bill, Ade and Ruth, Ron (deceased) and Carole (deceased). The Celebration of Life for Pastor Ray will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Gravesite Ripon Cemetery <\@> 10:00 a.m., First Church of Ripon, 305 Boesch Dr., Ripon <\@> 11 a.m.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, June 29, 2024
