Raymond Maese

Raymond Maese, 68 has entered God's eternal light. As we mourn our loss, the Maese family asks that we reflect on his achievements but also the struggle of his final two years and rejoice that he now walks with the Lord and has been healed. Ray was born to Pablo and Herminia Maese on December 19, 1944. He had one brother Paul Maese and one sister Natalia Maese Villareal. He grew up here in Las Cruces and was always a proud New Mexican. Ray served in the US Army and defended our country in Vietnam. He met the love of his life Anna Chavez in 1969, they married and built an eternal partnership that brought into this world their two kids Victor and Olivia and four grandchildren Emily, Gabriel, Ariana, and Uriah. Ray's tremendous welding skills contributed to NASA and manned space flight during the Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle programs some of his work will still be used in future space exploration. His love of hot rods is what kept him young; he used his skill to build some of the best race car chassis and prostreet frames in the area. "You can weld anything but the crack of dawn". Ray loved the mountains, and was known for his monster drive on the golf course but he will most be remembered for his competitive spirit in the sport of fastpitch softball. During one of the most memorable sports eras of Las Cruces, his pitching abilities lead his teams through many state, regional, and national championships with intense heat and a wicked riser. May his name live on in his beloved game of fastpitch. Ray left this world February 18 surrounded by his loving family Anna Maese, Victor and Eduina Maese, Emily and Gabriel Maese, Olivia Maese and Felix Hernandez, Ariana Maese and Uriah Hernandez. His last wishes were to be cremated and spread in his favorite places so that he may be in the open air and breathe again. There will be a memorial service at Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Las Cruces, NM on Friday February 24 at 6:00 pm. PDF Printable Version