Raymond Vern Carlson, at the age of 90, peacefully passed away at the Sarasota Hospice House, in Sarasota, FL surrounded by loving family on November 30, 2016. Raymond was born April 28, 1926 in Harvey, ND. In 1945, he met and married Sylvia Budry in Detroit, MI and raised three children Laura, Mel and Rita in Hazel Park, MI before moving to Buchanan, MI where they owned and operated Rays Party Pantry.

After his retirement and Sylvias death in 1990, Raymond moved to Zephyrhills, FL where he remained a FL resident for the duration of his life.Years later, Ray met Marion Bobrowski, and they were happily together until his death. He loved to travel and he and Marion took many worldwide cruises in the last decades of his life. While living at Lake Bernadette, Ray also loved to play golf with his friends at the CCs golf course.Raymond is survived by his family: Marion Bobrowski; daughter Laura Tillander, her husband Michael; son Melvin Carlson, his wife Sharron; his sister Marilyn Ourant and her husband Alan; plus numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Raymond was preceded in death by his wife Sylvia Carlson and daughter, Rita Carlson.

Honoring Raymonds wishes, in February 2017 a ceremony for interment of his ashes will be held at the chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home, Dade City, FL, where he and Sylvias ashes will rest side by side forever.