Raymond Housey, age 65, lost his battle with cancer Friday, June 5, 2015 at his home in Thief River Falls, MN with his family by his side. A memorial service to celebrate Ray's life will be held at 2 pm on Sat June 13, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Service with Reverend Frank Ehling officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service and burial will follow at the St. Hilaire Community Cemetery in St. Hilaire, MN. A prayer service and visitation will be on Friday, June 12, 2015 from 5-8 pm with the prayer service at 7 pm at Johnson Funeral Service. Raymond Louis Housey was born July 10, 1949, the son of Alvin and Lucille (Debroux) Housey, in Antigo, WI. They lived in a small logging camp, called Forest Center, where his father was a logger. In 1965 the logging camp closed and the family moved to Isabella, MN. Ray attended school in Silver Bay, MN where he graduated in 1967. Following graduation, Ray was employed by EJ Longyear where he drilled for core samples to locate minerals for mining. He traveled with the company to Alaska where he spent 6 months living in a fly-in camp north of Juneau. He continued to work with the EJ Longyear until 1971. On December 13, 1969 he was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Johnson in Circle Pines, MN. The couple made their home in Isabella until 1971 when they moved to Thief River Falls, MN. They were blessed with three sons: Travis, Jared and Nathan. They made the move to Thief River Falls so Ray could work with his father-in-law, Arnell Johnson, as a carpenter. Ray was very meticulous when it came to his carpentry work. He truly lived by the golden rule, "measure twice- cut once". He also worked for Woodman construction and Fynboh construction until he was forced to give up full-time carpentry, due to his aneurysm in 1997. Ray enjoyed working on carpentry projects around the house but enjoyed them more when they were for his family and friends. He especially loved working with his boys on their projects. He was an avid card player and story teller; he always had a story ready whenever there was someone to listen. He enjoyed hunting and fishing but his favorite pastime was spending time with family, especially his grandkids and great grand kids (aka his "sweetie pies"). Ray is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barb Housey of Thief River Falls, MN: sons Travis (Kristi) Housey of Thief River Falls, MN, Jared (Betty) Housey of Grand Forks, ND and Nathan (Nicolette) Housey of Strathcona, MN; grandchildren Erin Housey, Brandon Housey, Ashley Olson, SaVanna Housey, Ethan Housey, McKayla Housey and Eri Housey; great-grandchildren Amelia, Emma, Maesyn and Khloe; brothers Clarence (Julie) Housey of Silver Bay, MN and Floyd (Lynn) Housey of Isabella, MN; sister Margaret (Kimball) Anderson of Excelsior, MN; step-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, "cousints", relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Lucille Housey; grandparents Louis and Eunice Housey and Andrew and Applonia Debroux; sister Jeanie Loushine; and father-in-law and mother-in-law Arnell and Mardell Johnson.