Raymond ‘Ray’ Marion Mott

Ray was born on August 17, 1926, his parents were Frederick Ephraim Mott of Perronville, Michigan and Antonia Wasowicz Salvage of Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Poland. Ray was the fourth of four children raised in Perronville, Mich. and Chicago, Ill. Ray served in the United States Marine Corps Aug. 25, 1944 – Aug. 15, 1946.

On May 20, 1950 Ray married Margaret Elorine “Ellie” Deloughary at Sacred Heart Church in Schaffer. They had fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls. They started their family living in Perronville, and later relocated to Auburndale, Fla., where they lived seasonally for 20 years before settling into their current home in Bark River.

Ray was a local business owner of Universal Auto Parts in Escanaba, Michigan and an avid do-it-yourselfer. He enjoyed stock car racing, building, engineering, gardening, reading and serving the Lord. He was fulfilled by discipling through education in the local church and served internationally through missions in Honduras.

He was an active participant in the local parishes, Sacred Heart, Schaffer; St Michael’s, Perronville; St Joseph’s, Lakeland, Fla. and St Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bark River. He had a passion for family and raising them to be the Lord’s servants, after having a quiver full of 14 children they launched off their arrows and the family tree grew by 35 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Survivors include children Mary Fitzpatrick of Republic, Mich., Allen (Janice Lippins) Mott of Bark River, Janice (John) Smith of New Castle, Del., Linda (Robert) Mileski of Perronville, Terrance (Jackie LaFond) Mott of Orange Park, Fla., Cheryl Clifford of Bark River, (Brenda Sovey, widow of Fredrick Mott) of Bark River, Tomas Mott of Perronville, Jean (Timothy) Tanner of Lakeland, Fla., Dean (Beata Szczech) Mott of Lakeland, Fla., Teresa (Chester) Bell of Polk City, Fla. and Elizabeth (Kevin) Ryan of Perry, Fla.; grandchildren, Jolene Tuyls, Kim Guertz, Michael Tietz, Michael Fitzpatrick, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick, Father Allen Mott, Elaine Calouette, Joshua Mott, Jeni St. John, Angela Mileski, James Mileski, Deanna Christensen, Alaina Christensen, Greg Devaughn, Alicia Snyder, Casey Clifford, Chelsea Clifford, April Horwitz, Jacklyn Mott, David Mott, Raymond Mott, James Tanner, Theodore Tanner, John Tanner, Travis Mott, Rachel Mott, Elorine Mott, Kalynn Wachs and Kyle Ryan. Ray is also survived by 59 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, 33 nieces and nephews and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ellie Mott; his parents, siblings, Bernice Schultz, Alfred Mott, and Earl Mott; sons, Theodore, Raymond “Butch”, and Fredrick Mott; sons-in-law, Bernard Clifford and Tom Fitzpatrick; granddaughters, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Raquel Marten; grandsons, Robert Mileski, Timothy Tanner, and Raymond Tanner; great-grandson, Caden Clifford.

The Mott family will welcome friends and relatives on Monday, December 11 beginning at 9:45 a.m. at the Crawford Funeral Chapel, 1236 Old Hwy 2 & 41, Bark River. Military honors will be at 10 a.m. and then the visitation will continue until 11:30 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church with Rev. Al Mott and Rev. Darryl Pepin concelebrating.

Burial will take place in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Perronville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, P.O. Box 187, Bark River, MI 49807 or to Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 377 Maple St., Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net.

The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the family.