Raymond J. Cawley

Newport, RI - Raymond "Joe" Cawley, Jr., 73, of 2 Channing Place, Newport, RI, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Elisabeth "Betty" (Lawless) Cawley. Born in Newport, RI on May 12, 1939, he was the son of the late Raymond J. and Dorothy (Miller) Cawley.Joe grew up in Newport on Wesley Street in a duplex with his cousins, and he and his family were lifelong members of St. Josephs Church. Early in his career he worked at the former Perrotti's Drug Store and also for the Newport Public Works Department. Joe started his own company RJ Cawley Contracting in 1971 and began work on many projects around Aquidneck Island including working for the Newport Restoration Foundation and Doris Duke's efforts to restore historic buildings. He was active in Pop Warner Football from 1973 to 1979 and served as Past President. He was a self made man, his generosity and genuine character defined him, and helped his business thrive. Besides his wife Betty of 49 years, he is survived by his children, Cheryl E. Cawley DeAngelis and her husband Matthew, and James Cawley and his wife Samantha, both of Portsmouth, RI, Jonathan Thurston of Portsmouth, his grandchildren, Peter DeAngelis, Charena DeAngelis, Barrett Cawley, Jonothon Cawley, Ashley LeTendre, Sophie LeTendre, Christopher Cawley and Brandon Cawley, his siblings, Margaret "Peggy" Boyle, Dorothy "Dottie" Meyer, Sr. Constance Cawley SSJ, Cathy Andrews, Patrick Cawley, Mary Norbury and John Cawley and many nieces and nephews.He was the brother of the late Patricia "Patsy" Souza, Thomas "Tommy" Cawley, Rosemary Marvel, Ralph Cawley and Ann Alton. His funeral will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at 9:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Josephs Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to the Raymond Joseph Cawley Jr., Scholarship Fund, c/o Cheryl Cawley DeAngelis, 11 Cindy Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Cemetery Details Newport Memorial Park Vaucluse Avenue Middletown, RI, Service JUN 9. 10:00 AM St. Josephs Church Mann Avenue at Broadway Newport, RI, US