Obituary of Erskine Raymond Douglas

DOUGLAS, Erskine Raymond, “Ray”, of Land O’ Lakes, FL. passed peacefully at the age of 96 on January 17, 2013. He was born January 4th, 1917 in Cordova, AL and was the second of four sons born to Annie Mae Hodges Douglas and Henry Clay Douglas, Sr. All four sons served in World War II, Raymond in the U. S. Navy as an airplane mechanic in the European Theater. He later retired as a Chief Petty Office in the Naval Reserves. Ray earned both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in education from the University of Florida and taught Industrial Arts in the Florida Public Schools throughout the state, retiring from the Pasco County School System. Ray made friends with everyone he met wherever he went with his infectious grin, twinkling eyes and a humorous story for every occasion. Ray is preceded in death by his wife, Leona Thomas Douglas; three brothers, John, Dyer, Henry, Jr. “HC”, and stepson, Emory Thomas. He is lovingly remembered and survived by two daughters, Faye Douglas Johnson and her husband, David of Santa Cruz, CA and Nancy Douglas Cook and her husband, Bruce of Richmond, VA; son, Robert Paul Douglas and his wife, Suzanne of Land O’ Lakes; two stepdaughters, Patty Youngblood and her husband, Herb of Land O' Lakes and Barbara Bell and her husband, Vaughn of Madison; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22nd at the First Baptist Church of Land O’ Lakes. Interment will follow at the First Baptist Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening at Loyless Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray's memory to the First Baptist Church Building Fund.