Raymond Charles Lava

Raymond C. Lava, 75, went to be with the Lord on December 20, 2009 at his home in Clear Lake, Texas after a courageous 6 year battle with cancer.

He was born in Watertown, N.Y. on the 16th of February, 1934 to Charles Lava and Mary Salotto Lava. Ray received a Bachelor's degree from the School of Labor and Industrial Relations at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served his country in the Army Signal Corps, stationed at Boerring, Germany.

Ray's career in Personnel and Industrial relations spanned more than 35 years and included employment with St. Regis Paper Company, American Cyanamid, Texaco and Hoechst Celanese. Ray was active in the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the La Porte Chamber of Commerce.

He is a graduate of Men's Bible Study Fellowship, where he acquired a love for the Word of Truth.

Among Ray's greatest passions were his family, savoring a good meal, watching football, relaxing by the fireplace and enjoying a good game of golf.

Remember Ray, not with sadness, but for his laughter, warmth, charm and genuine knack for making people feel at ease and valued.

He leaves in God's loving care his devoted wife and companion of 46 years, Betty Pace Lava; his three children Tia Raebette Viera, Katrina Maree Lava, Raymond Charles Lava Jr.; his son in law, Pedro Viera Marrera; his six grandchildren, William Jacob Mancini, William Joel Mancini, Abigail Maree Mancini, Wesley Alberto Viera, Luke Charles Lava, Rachel Elizabeth Lava; and his two brothers Frederick James Lava and John Michael Lava.

Friends are invited to gather with the family to celebrate Ray's life at three o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, December 21st at University Baptist Church in Clear Lake City. There will be a visitation prior to the service beginning at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Ray's name be directed to cancer research at M.D. Anderson Hospital - P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.