Ray Cruz

Raymundo "Ray" Cruz unexpectedly passed away on September 1st, 2024 at the age of 76. He suffered from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) for many years from heavy cigarette smoking and in the last few years from dementia.

Ray was born on January 6th, 1948 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Pablo and Juanita Cruz. His father Pablo immigrated to the United States after the Mexican Revolution ended in 1920 where it is rumored that Pablo fought with Pancho Villa. Ray was proud of this part of his heritage and had discovered an unverified picture of his father Pablo at one of the Gardunos' restaurants. Ray loved to camp, fish and hunt - many family members have fond memories of time spent with Ray in the mountains, hunting and fishing all over Northern New Mexico. Back in the 70's he was the proud owner of a yellow and black 1969 Dodge Charger RT Super Bee for a short time. One of the more recent owners looked up all the former owners and Ray was able to take a ride in it about 10 years ago.

After 35 years of dedicated service, Ray retired from Albuquerque Public Schools as the Fleet Maintenance Manager at the APS Administration Lincoln Complex. He started with APS repairing musical instruments where he learned to play almost every instrument with proficiency. His proudest career achievement was overseeing the construction of the new fleet maintenance building. But Ray's passion was music! He was extremely talented and could learn any musical piece by ear. He was the lead bass guitarist with the local Brown Sugar Band since its inception in 1969. The band had many different members throughout the years but Ray, Jerry Jaramillo (Saxophone) and Cecil Sanchez (Guitar) were the founding members who stayed with the band throughout its 49-year span. The band enjoyed local success and opened for many well known artists such as Selena, James Brown, Johnny Hernandez and Little Joe y La Familia. They recorded a few professional CDs including "Still Around & Still In Town" where Ray was featured as the lead singer for the song "Aunque Pasen Los Anos". On a regular basis, they were invited to play in Spanish Village for the New Mexico State Fair and the band won two New Mexico Music Awards for Song of the Year and Up & Coming Band of the Year. In more recent years, Ray played bass for an independent Christian band called Exodus with Jackie Jaramillo and Ray's former brother-in-law Fred Griego until he was no longer able to remember and carry the chords which was heartbreaking for him and everyone who knew him.

Ray was married to Rebecca and had one son, Ray Cruz Jr. Ray was also previously married to Catherine and had one daughter, Michelle Edwards Nee Cruz, and one grandson, Christian Casaus-Cruz. Ray was preceded in death by his father Pablo, his mother Juanita, his sister Lila, his sister Mary, his sister Isabelle, his brother Willie and his sister Irene. Ray has 7 siblings - Mary Sanchez, Lila Valles, Irene Aragon, Isabelle Sanchez, Guillermo "Willie" Cruz, Esperanza Roybal, and Cecelia Davis - with many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Ray was raised Catholic and had also received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He enjoyed reading the Bible, attending Bible Study with his sister Irene and watching Bible teachings on television. He regularly attended services at a Seventh Day Adventist Church and looked forward to being with his mom Juanita in the afterlife.

"Jesus said ... ,'I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" - John 11:25-26 NIV

The memorial service details will be forthcoming.