Raymond Matthew Mead Mowen

Raymond "Ray" M. Mowen, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at the age of 57, following an 18-month battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He was born in Ohio on September 5, 1965, to Robert and Juanita (Townsend) Mowen and lived in Palm Beach County, Florida for nearly his entire life. Ray never met a stranger, constantly telling silly dad jokes to make others laugh, thanking every vet for their service and stopping whatever he was doing to help people in need, from putting groceries in an elder's vehicle to pushing a disabled vehicle to safety. He was proud to be a band geek at John I. Leonard High and treasured the memories and lifelong friendships he made while sweating through Marching Band, Jazz/Stage Ensemble and Symphonic Orchestra. He even went as far as attending Palm Beach Community College (only the older generation will remember when the local college was not a State college yet) for Jazz/Stage Ensemble. Throughout these years Ray worked at Winn Dixie, most likely having more fun than he was getting paid for. After high school graduation, Ray dedicated six years of his life as a proud airborne parachute rigger with the U.S. Marine Corps, earning awards in rifle marksmanship, pistol marksmanship, rifle sharpshooter, distinguished honor graduate for parachute rigger school and his glorious gold parachute wings. Ray later worked for Publix starting out as a meat cutter and later becoming a senior meat cutter, however, he especially enjoyed working outdoors which led to his next occupation, nurturing exotic plants, primarily Palm trees. Later in life, Ray found himself working at USA Gun Defense where he was able to spend more time talking than working, but loved every minute of it. Except for his family, Ray's greatest joy was volunteer work. He donated his time to several hunting organizations, including roles such as founder and president of the Florida Quail Federation, director of the South Florida Dog Hunters' Association, and member of the Florida Airboat & Halftrack Association. His greatest professional legacy was his 30 years of dedicated service towards building the heritage of hunting in Florida by developing safe, responsible, knowledgeable and involved hunters, especially young adults, and teaching them the significance of conservation. He will greatly be missed by his surviving family, loving wife Heather Cranage; children Lauren Mowen Michael Mowen and Sarah Cranage; stepson Logan Cranage; grandchildren Wesley Puello and Jackson Puello; and sister Brenda Mowen. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his sisters Carol Hodge and Nancy Edwards. In lieu of flowers Ray would want donations to be made to protecting Florida's natural lands, waters, the wildlife they harbor. Donations can be made at the following link (if you would prefer to send a check the information can be found on the below link). Please list Ray Mowen for your dedicated donation: https://wildlifeflorida. givingfuel.com/conserving- floridas-wildlife