Raymond Paul Bousquet

Sgt. Raymond Paul Bousquet was born to George Levi Bousquet Jr. and Thelma Alma (Jones) Bousquet in Queens, New York. He was the 5th child and the baby of the family.

He served four years in the United States Air Force as a security policeman, both domestic and abroad. After being honorably discharged from service in 1981 he moved to Austin, Texas, and became a Deputy with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department. He tended bar at a favorite local tavern for a while then partnered in his own security business before starting his career with the City of Austin Water Utility as a Project Manager in 1984, where he worked for twenty seven years before retiring from the ‘Pleasure Palace’ in 2011.

Ray married Laura Gold in September of 1988 and over the years had many ‘children’ in the form of their much beloved pets. There was "Sarge” the ginger cat aka the Butterscotch Bandit, aka the Swayback Old Mule, aka Mamma’s Whittle Butter-Puss; and Jessie, a much-loved-much-spoiled black Lab (who once acted as somebody’s namesake, or so the story goes); there was Gizmo the Wonder-Dog (half Westie, half Alien), who loved to travel and was an accomplished actress and part-time lounge dancer. She loved the limelight and almost ran off to join the circus but would have missed her kitty friends too much to leave; and Dudley, aka Duh-dley, a gentle-giant of a yellow Lab with a heart bigger than all of us put together; there was his dear Labrador, Jasper, who left us all-too-soon *sad sigh*…. and so many more pets over the years, all of whom we’re sure were there to greet Ray at the Rainbow Bridge when he left us this past Saturday morning.

Ray was incredibly well-read, and his curiosity and vast knowledge base ran deep. He was ridiculously funny, played a mean acoustic guitar, and was a sensational cook and baker of cheesecakes. He would wait impatiently at the mailbox to take delivery of his monthly haul of cooking magazines, and the standing rib roast he prepared each Thanksgiving was his pride and joy. But inevitably whenever anyone asked for the secret recipe his reply would always be "Not in this lifetime, buckwheat."

He loved arguing politics and driving around town in his old Jeep “Edna” but more than anything he loved his family. He was a great storyteller and firm believer in creative reality so each time he re-told a story, or re-re-told it, it got bigger and better and more colorful than the last telling, especially if a new audience member was present.

Ray was gregarious, outgoing, and easily engaged with anyone he met, but was a bit of a tease. He was a bewilderment to some but well tolerated by many, and his keen wit kept us all on our toes and we loved him all the more for it.

Ray also had an endless supply of opinions, which he was always more than willing to share. You didn’t even have to ask for one. He just knew when you needed to hear his view and it was often followed by, "That’s just my opinion, I could be wrong. I was one time back in 1977”.

But Ray was also a man of generous spirit.

He was kindhearted and would be at your side before you even knew you needed help. He laughed easily and was full of encouragement for others and had an accepting, kind soul, because more than anything else Ray Bousquet cared. We will all miss having him in our lives but will keep him in our hearts forever.

Ray passed away peacefully at home with his wife Laura by his side. Also present was his brother George with whom he had a unique and incredibly special connection, and his wonderful sister-in-law Victoria.

He leaves behind to celebrate him his wife Laura, "The Lovely and Talented Mrs. Bousquet”, aka Lulu; his brother George (Victoria) Bousquet, twin sister Jeanette Walters, sister Denise (Rich) Thomas, mother-in-law Betty Gold, cousins Clay (Shauna) Kidd, Steve (Tanya) Stoeltje, Lisa Stoeltje, nephew Bryan (Megan) Bousquet, Annette (Rob) Strickland, niece Shannon(Jon) Kidd-McCollum along with many other nieces and nephews.

Ray you’ll be dearly missed, and we wish you a peaceful rest and a safe flight to eternal Grace.

“I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone

All my dreams, pass before my eyes a curiosity

Now don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky

It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy…

“Dust in the wind. All we are is dust in the wind”

A Military Service with Honors will be held Monday,September 15, 2025, at 11:00 am in the morning at the Santa Fe National Cemetery followed by a private luncheon and celebration of life at Restaurant Hervé, 139 W San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM.

Ray felt deeply about the armed forces and gratefully supported those who served.

We ask that in lieu of flowers, and in his memory, you donate to the Wounded Warrior Project or to your own favorite charity.

The family of Raymond Bousquet has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.  505-747-7477