Ray was born in Anniston, Alabama to Raymond Sr. "Pete" and Margaret Fuqua Deason. He grew up in Jacksonville, AL where he had many lifelong friends. After high school, he attended college, which was interrupted by the Vietnam war. In 1971, Ray performed his Army basic training in the Engineering Battalion at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and came home to serve 6 years in the Alabama National Guard. He moved to the Atlanta area where he continued his education and met and married his wife of 47 years, Kathi Clopton Deason.

Ray worked in software for several companies and retired as VP of Operations for an Atlanta-based software company. He loved his family and friends and was known as a "character". He picked at those he loved and kept them laughing. He was out-going and everywhere he went, he found a friend.

His passions included supporting his wife in her interests, following the joy of his life- his grand-daughter to anything she was involved with, gardening, music and love of corvettes and classic cars. He was a member of Classic Glass Corvette club of Marietta and at times owned 25th anniversary and 50th anniversary corvettes.

Ray was a man of faith and at one point served as a deacon in his church. He loved God, his family, this country, and his Alabama football and softball teams. He always recognized and thanked those who serve- active or retired and often anonymously paid meal tabs for fire fighters, police, and military if they were dining nearby.

Ray is survived by his soulmate, Kathi, his beloved daughters- Kara Deason Hull (Kerry) and Krista Deason Preston, (Michael); a grand-daughter, Vivienne, all of Woodstock and Canton, GA; his sister, Sandra Watson (Roger) of Marietta, GA; nephew Roger Watson II (Kristal); niece Heather Watson Nelson, (Thomas), brother-in-law, Kevin Clopton (Anna) of Newnan, GA; nephew Andrew Clopton (Catrina Mitchum) of Petaluma, CA; niece Lisa Clopton Russo (John) of Grantville, GA; step-nephew Dustan Beall (Jessica) of GA; Aunt Vera Deason Miller of Jacksonville, AL; cousin like a brother Vic "Larry" Miller (Charlotte) of Jacksonville, AL; Uncle Charles Fuqua (Ethelyn) of Bradenton, FL; cousin Earl Cambron (Deb), of Hoover, AL; Aunt Eula Mae Deason of Jena, LA; and many cousins, great nieces and nephews across the country, and last, his beloved poodle, "Saban Wins for the Tide".

Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.LakesideFuneralHomeGa.com .

Lakeside Funeral Home, 121 Claremore Drive, Woodstock, GA 30188, Phone: 770-293-2757, is honored to assist the Deason family.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes a contribution in Ray's memory to any of the following non-profit organizations:

South Cherokee Softball 501(c)(3)
Business Venmo Account @SouthCherokeeSoftball
P.O. Box 668
Lebanon, GA 30146
A completely self-funded, volunteer organization for kids softball ages 2 - 13 years old.

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue 501(c)(3)
https://angelsrescue.org/donate/ Their mission is to end animal suffering and to create a world in which there are no longer unwanted pets.

MUST Ministries 501(c)(3)
www.mustministries.org For more than 50 years, MUST Ministries has been serving your neighbors in need ... transforming lives and communities in response to Christ's call.