Silas Ray Crees passed way August 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Florida. He was born January 12, 1930 to Henry and Corrina Berry Crees in Connelly Springs, North Carolina.
Ray left home at the age of 12 to work on a cattle farm on Merritt Island back in the day when Florida was mostly woods and dirt roads. At age 17, he joined the US Navy by faking his age as 18. He did his basic training in San Diego, CA and then was stationed in Memphis, TN at the US Naval Air Technical Training Center. It was there he met his first wife, Norma Jean Bentley and started a family, adding their daughter, Rheba Jo. Ray was honorably discharged just before the Korean War broke. He, Norma and Rheba moved to Eau Gallie, Florida and soon added their sons, Ron and Chip, to the family. Ray and Norma later divorced. Ray married Stella Ward November 7, 1977.
Ray would describe himself as an entrepreneur and inventor. He started Ray's Electric in the early 1950's in Eau Gallie, which is now a section of the city of Melbourne. Ray would brag about having wired 90% of the home and businesses in the area. Ray was very successful with his Manufacture Research Corp contracting with the military to provide bullet proof windows for armored cars. Ray invented a cable bender and a tool that did not require the changing out of bits while using them. He had patents on these but they were stolen by a large manufacturing company. He fought them in court, but, unable to continue funding attorneys, he gave up the fight.
After he sold Ray's Electric, many other business ventures Ray pursued were running treasure salvage boats off the coast of Key West, Mayan Safari, S.A, hunting dude ranch Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico and Slick 50, providing service in many Southern states including the Bahamas. Ray was a skilled salesman and could convince the most pessimistic person to buy into whatever he was selling. He was also involved in multiple pyramid companies looking to make millions.
Ray's family describes him as a hard worker, protector, rescuer, persistent problem solver, history story teller, colorful character, and a charmer. He loved telling stories about his life and adventures. Family, friends and strangers would spend hours listening to him. Ray was a loyal brother and friend and was always helping the "underdog."
Ray was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Stella. Also preceding him in death were sons, Ron and Chip Crees, brothers, Henry & Neal Crees and granddaughter, Tiffany Crees.
He is survived by daughter – Rheba Jo Simpson, Marlo Weinstein, step-daughter - Marion White, and son- Bill Santarelli, sisters – Dorothy Crees who he was devoted to, Nellie Crees, Olive Larkin, and Ann Hughes, 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who were very special to him.
Ray did the very best he knew how and is loved and will be missed by his family and friends.

A private memorial service for family and close friends will be held at his home on September 9, 2023 at 1:00 pm.