Raymond Marks

Raymond Marks, 77, of 181 Browns Lane, Middletown, RI, died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at home with his family at his side. He was the husband of Joan Sawyer Marks for 56 years.Born in Newport, RI on October 9, 1930, he was the son of the late Manuel and Angelina Raposa Marks. Raymond Marks was a lifelong Newport County resident, and a graduate of Rogers High School, class of 1951. He began work after school with his brother as a plumbers helper. He later took a position as a milkman for Roundhouse Dairy, where he worked for 10 years. Ray accepted a position at Raytheon in the transducer division in 1965. Through his 28 year career at Raytheon, he advanced through the company to retire as a Foreman in 1992.Ray loved the outdoors and spent many days tending to his gardens, growing many unique and varied species of flowers. He was the proverbial Jack of All Trades and was always fixing things and woodworking. He built his own home for his family in 1963, where he and his wife raised their family. Ray was also an animal lover, especially admiring the Bald Eagle. From 1947 to 1959 Ray served in the US Navy Reserves.He is survived by his wife Joan Marks of Middletown, RI, and three daughters Deborah Marks Almeida of Tiverton, RI, Christine Marks Ware and her husband Ernest of Newport, RI, and Lisa Marks Breitenstein and her husband Richard of Tiverton, RI; as well as his granddaughter Heather Breitenstein of Tiverton, RI. He is also survived by sisters Cecilia Watts of Chesapeake, VA, Patricia Lees of Portsmouth, RI, and several nieces and nephews.Raymond was preceded in death by his brothers August and Lester Marks and a sister Louise Faria.His funeral will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in St. Josephs Church, Broadway, Newport. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, from 2-4 and 7-9 in the Memorial Funeral Home.