Raymond Joseph Meyer Jr., 91, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2014 at his home in Portsmouth, VA. He slipped peacefully into God’s hands with his wife of 67 years by his side.
Raymond was born September 17, 1923 in Wildwood, New Jersey, the first of six children born to Teresa and Raymond J. Meyer Sr., both deceased. He grew up the ringleader of a group of merrymakers who made life on the island fun for all the children.
He served honorably in WWII as a member of the USMC, seeing action in both Tarawa and Peleliu as well as a member of the Flying Doodlebugs. He continued throughout his life to be proud to call himself a Marine.
His passions in life, outside of his family, included Notre Dame Football and St. Joseph’s University (PA) basketball. (Go Hawks!). But perhaps his greatest passion was coaching young people. He began coaching upon his completion of military service becoming the first basketball coach at Wildwood Catholic High School. He continued coaching young people for more than 30 years. Many of those years were spent in Medford Lakes, N.J. where he influenced the lives of countless youngsters.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 67 years Anna Meyer, son Larry Meyer, daughter Pat Cary (Donald) all of Portsmouth VA, daughter Marcella Gilbert (Chris) of Bonifay Florida, grandsons Brian Cary (Toni) of VA Beach, VA and Jeffrey Cary (Jannette) of Raleigh, N.C., great granddaughters Maggie and Brooklyn Cary of Va. Beach, VA. Beloved brother Jerome (Jane) of Perry Hall MD, sisters Gloria Wilson of Brevard, NC, Claire Saunders and Lorraine Barnes of Ft. Meyers Beach, Florida, daughter in-law Ellen Meyer of Atlanta, GA, sister in-law Paquita Meyer, Nogales, AZ., numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and family friends. He held special affinity for being one of the boys with his nephews Karl, John, Jerome, Chris and Michael. He considered his grandson’s friends Francis (US Army) and Rodney as his own and remained lovingly attached to his former daughter in-law Julia Meyer. Special affection was held for his great niece Katie who shared his love of Notre Dame football.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Dr. Karl Meyer and his son Raymond J. Meyer III.
A memorial mass will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA at 11 a.m. Friday November 14, 2014. A graveside service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Albert Horton Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk, VA.
The family would like to thank Bon Secours Home Hospice for the help and support provided during this time.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Raymond’s name to the Wounded Warriors Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
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Dear Cousin Ann, Pat, Larry and Marcie,
We are so sorry to hear of Ray’s passing.
All of you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Your husband (and father) was always so kind and thoughtful to us. He was always ready to hear what we had to say. Yes, he was very opinionated but he always was willing to listen to other points of view.
I always considered him an intelligent and well informed individual.
He was especially kind to me during my years of working for him in my “Wildwood teen years”.
Please accept our sincere condolences.
Buck and Cathy
To Mrs. Anna Meyer and the Meyer family, please accept my condolences on your loss of Ray. I am the Faithful Comptroller of St. Paul’s Assembly in Portsmouth. I regret I cannot attend the service tomorrow, but will pray to Ray’s soul. I read his fine obituary and feel I know this fine fellow veteran. May God be waiting to welcome his soul.