Ray was born on September, 11th 1922 in Springfield Nova Scotia. He was the 4th child of Allister & Mary Jane (Ernst) Crouse. At the age of 18, Ray voluntarily enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corp, serving in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany during World War II. After returning from Europe in 1945, he bought a farm in Nova Scotia, living there until he moved to Massachusetts in 1949 where he met and married Ruth Lyon on October 2, 1954.
Ray and Ruth had two children together, William and Susan, and eventually moved to Derry, New Hampshire. After a long battle with cancer, Ruth passed away in 1965. Several years later (1967), Ray married Jane Lyon and they later purchased the Ray-Kent Home, an abandoned 1830 farmhouse in Londonderry, NH that Ray painstakingly restored for the next three decades.
In 1999, Ray and Jane moved to Somersworth, New Hampshire to live in a home built for them by their son-in-law Richard Arling. Ray’s wife Jane passed away after a lengthy illness in 2006, yet Ray continued to live there independently until August 2022 at the age of 99.
In his younger years, Ray worked at Rutters Laundry and Linen Service in Lawrence, MA (1952-1980), eventually becoming a stationary Engineer overseeing the entire power plant and all ancillary buildings. During this time, he also helped his cousin John Crouse to start Windham Nurseries in Windham, NH. After Rutters, Ray worked at the power plant at Phillips Exeter Academy Andover in Andover, MA until his retirement at age 70.
During Ray’s younger years, he had a passion for hunting, but after the purchase of his historic farmhouse, he shifted most of his time and attention to the meticulous care and maintenance of his homes and doing yard projects around his property. Ray also enjoyed traveling to Canada to visit his extended family. One of Ray’s greatest passions in life was playing the Canadian board game, Crokinole, with friends and family, which he regularly played (and won at!) up until his passing on December 31, 2022.
Ray was always in constant motion and had the energy and strength of a much younger man - something he was quite proud of! Even into his late 90’s it wasn’t uncommon to see him outside his home in Somersworth splitting wood, raking leaves, or shoveling his driveway.
Ray’s family is incredibly grateful that friends and family were able to gather with Ray on September 11th, 2022 to celebrate his 100th Birthday. With approximately 50 guests in attendance, Ray was surrounded by those that loved him to celebrate his centennial. It was a wonderful day that Ray enjoyed immensely.
Ray will be greatly missed by his daughter Susan Arling and son-in-law Richard Arling of North Hampton, NH - who lovingly bestowed him the name ‘Grumpy’ after the birth of their child; his son Bill Crouse and wife Estrella of Redondo Beach, CA; his three granddaughters, Amanda Arling, Michelle Crouse and Rachel Crouse; his sister Kathleen ‘Kay’ Rand; and many nieces and nephews.
Ray was predeceased by his wives Ruth and Jane, his brother Russel, and his sisters Hazel Law, Anne Rasmussen, Jean Chambers, Marion King, and Nola Mailman.
Calling hours will held Wednesday January 4, 2023 from 9am to 11am. at the Peabody Funeral Home and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street Derry, NH. A funeral service will be held at 11 am in the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery of Derry. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ray’s memory to a charity of your choice.