Raymond Ellis Myers, 61, passed away on Thursday Feb. 4, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee following a brief but hard fought battle with acute leukemia and complications.

Ray was born on Dec. 4, 1948, in Kenosha to the late Robert A. and Edith (Brunner) Myers. He attended school in Kenosha and was a 1967 graduate of Bradford High School. He also attended Gateway Technical College.

He served in the U.S. Army from July 15, 1970, to Feb. 22, 1972, with the rank of SP4. He was honorably discharged having received the National Defense Service Medal, M16 Marksman and Good Conduct Medal.

On Sept. 6, 1975, Ray was united in marriage to Mary Ann Maloney at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Kenosha.

He was previously employed at Chester Electronics and retired from Snap-On Tools after 31 years of service.

Ray was truly a special person. He had an inquisitive mind and an incredibly giving spirit, a passion for photography, astronomy, science, movies, and of course anything gadgety. He was always working on a project, fixing a computer, snow blowing the neighbors' driveways, or just generally helping out his friends. His joy and playfulness were absolutely infectious, and he was unfailingly gentle, accepting, and kind. We have all lost so much with his passing. In remembrance of him may we all aspire to reflect some of Ray's qualities in our own lives: to me more patient, more accepting, more giving, and more kind.

Left to remember Ray are his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Kathryn "Katie" of Anchorage, Alaska, and Karen of Seattle, Wash.; three sisters, Peggy (Joe) Zoromskis and Joan Korth of Kenosha, Laurae (Rick) Boylan of Janesville, Wis.; step-brother, Victor Wade of Nokomis, Fla.; step-sisters, Barbara Peterson of Fresno, Calif., and Suzie (Chris) McMurray of Kenosha; and many other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his step-mother, Fern (Utzig/Wade) Myers; and brother-in-law, John Korth.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at 11 a.m. at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home. Interment will follow in St. James Cemetery. A visitation will take place on Monday, Feb. 8, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home, and on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial remembrances in Ray's name can be made to the American Cancer Society, N19 W24350 River Wood Dr., Waukesha, WI 53188 or the charity of your choice.

Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home

3720 39th Avenue

Kenosha, WI 53144

262-658-4101

Online Condolences at www.piasecki-althaus.com