Raymond Francis Rousseau

Raymond Rousseau

‘Well done, good and faithful servant…’

Raymond Francis Rousseau (Jim), of Farmington Hills passed away at home with family on Friday, March 28, 2025 at the age of 91.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on McGraw Street in the shadow of Olympia Stadium on October 28, 1933 to Evelyn Rose (nee. Van Kirk) and Francis Joseph Rousseau. Ray lived his first 74 years continuously within the City limits of his beloved Detroit. The oldest of seven children growing up in the Depression era, their small backyard was one of childhood adventure; including tunnels dug deep underground, rope swings spanning the alley from their garage to an adjacent warehouse, and never a blade of grass. There was no shortage of ‘bows and arrows’ for rat hunting, and as legend has it, occasionally a neighborhood girl was even ‘tied to a stake’. As the oldest, Ray was left in charge to enforce the rule that ‘none of his brothers or sisters were allowed to leave the yard or cross the street’ – all else was fair game.

At the age of 12 Ray embarked upon a many years long ‘career’ of delivering papers for the Detroit News throughout Midtown before school, and then the Detroit Times in the afternoon. Two years later, at age 14, he added a third job at night as a manual Pin Setter at the neighborhood bowling alley – he always claimed was his very favorite job. All this going on while Ray attended Jefferson Junior High School and then Cass Technical High School where he learned the techniques and art of the Printing industry.

In addition to his very active life in Detroit, at a very young age his Grandparents began taking him on fishing trips to a rented cabin on a small lake near Clare, MI. Over the years this idyllic lake and the Summers spent there would become part of the family’s legacy.

After leaving High School to work various jobs in the stock rooms of the iconic Hudson’s Department Store and a Chrysler Assembly plant, Ray started a job as a printing plate maker at National Rubber and Lithoplate Company in the heart of Downtown Detroit. He typeset and forged large plates while standing over 300 degree presses. These plates were state-of-the-art of the 1950’s printing industry and were where the art design and content were created for everything that required printing, They were then sent to printing press companies for mass production. His career there lasted over 45 years and he reluctantly retired in 2001 as this technology was phasing out. Ray was proud to tell the stories of how he worked directly with a customer named Barry Gordy laying out music concert posters for some new singers called Motown who he had never heard of.

Meanwhile back up-North, in 1952 at the age of 19, Ray had saved enough money to help his parents (Ev and Dad) purchase almost an acre of land on their beloved Summer lake. His mother Ev enlisted Ray and the other 6 kids (ranging in age from 19 to 9) to head North to ‘start building’. This group of mostly young teenagers, under the steady beat of their Mother’s drum, with no previous experience had to quickly learn to pour concrete foundations, build walls, run electric & plumbing. Their Dad Francis mostly stayed home in Detroit to continue to work as many extra-shifts at Chrysler to fund what would become the first house on their remote lake. The work was long and slow, the fun was fast and furious. Times spent there became some of Ray’s fondest and most beloved. This project became a focus for the entire family for many years, with Ray becoming the main cabinet maker/ carpenter. While in Detroit he’d build cabinets and counters to be hauled up-North on weekends. As the kids aged and the family grew, the Cottage grew too. Eventually resulting in a stately looking 10 bedroom home which the family still enjoys to this day.

On the lake, Ray became a lifelong lover of boats. His crazy speedboat antics on the lake raised the ire of all the lake’s fishermen for years. He also developed a fascination for any type of flight – from Hot Air Balloons, Gliders and Helicopters and Kites.

Ray met Dorothy Bales in 1957 and they were married in 1960 at Saint James Methodist Church in Detroit. Ray became baptized in the Church on the morning of their wedding. He grew to love the Church and continued to be devoted and extremely active in its fellowship the rest of his life.

Ray and Dorothy had three children. Michael was born in 1961; Robin in 1963; and Anne-Marie in 1966.

Ray was a dedicated father who became involved in all aspects of their lives (except for ever changing a diaper or feeding a bottle). While his kids were young (and even after) Ray was active as Sunday school teacher; Troup 211 Cub Scout Master; Boy Scout Leader; Bus Driver and Chaperone for the Youth Group and Youth Bell Choirs. Ray also established, ran and coached Youth Neighborhood Baseball, Basketball, and Volleyball Leagues. Community outreach through the Church (especially to youth) always brought him joy. In addition Ray was always at the beck and call of Michael and Anne-Marie for any school project, field trip, school play sets and on and on. Ray became especially popular among the neighborhood kids when he’d teach them to drive his car and practice on side streets and parking lots.

In addition to extensive time spent with the Rousseau family at home and up-North, as their kids became more independent Ray and Dorothy had more time to foster deep friendships with their ‘church family’. These long-lasting personal friendships continued to be maintained and would intersect throughout memberships at St. Timothy, Nardin Park, and Orchard Methodist Churches. Always willing to step up when asked, Ray consistently served on committees such as Trustees, Family Life, Welcoming Committees, also serving as an Usher, Teller, and even helping as handyman at other congregations.

Ray loved big parties, family gatherings and church dinners – as long at there was NO ALCOHOL. He would proudly proclaim he never went to a Bar in his life, and only sipped beer once and spit it out. Anyone hosting Ray for any type of event quickly learned to serve him an absolutely plain meal. Even a garnish of a lemon wedge on the plate would result in his pitiful stare at a ruined dinner,

In 1996 Ray and his family’s lives were shattered by his wife Dorothy’s advanced cancer diagnosis at the age of 58. After three months of dedicated home care and continual medical setbacks, Dorothy passed away and left Ray’s life devastated.

Ray dedicated the next years of his life to doing GOOD DEEDS! He worked his way into hospital volunteer jobs and food delivery organizations, and would go out of his way for any friend in need of a handyman, car repair, or favor.

After retiring in 2001 Ray continued to foster his creative talents for others. He dabbled extensively in photography, custom picture framing, any kind of creative clock you could imagine, classes in flower designs, and custom upholstery to name a few. Never having a chance to travel much, he was now able to join his kids to go to many places for the first time. He was always quick to tell of his experience being in Midtown Manhattan NYC on September 11, 2001, and became a regular supporter of the ‘Tunnel to Towers’ organization 9/11 First Responders.

Several years later Ray reconnected with one of his former Methodist Ministers (and a family friend) while doing repair jobs at her new church. He was smitten, and if he wasn’t 74 years old you’d have thought he had a teenage crush. Ray married Sharon Scott in 2007.

Throughout the years Ray’s passion for all sports continued. He was an especially avid fan of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings. Ray and Anne-Marie acquired an extensive collection of personally signed memorabilia, often citing the players stats and even their birthdays when he’d chat with them. Ray was a walking encyclopedia of statistics and sports lore.

In the last couple years of his life Ray struggled with memory and mobility issues. Despite this, he maintained much of his silly, witty, flirtatious sense of humor and his concern and worry about his kids and family.

Ray’s humble, simple, and mild mannered demeanor belies his wonderful life story of talent, dedication, creativity and admirable character.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth!!!

Ray is survived by his children; Michael (Jill), and Anne-Marie; his wife Sharon; his brother Ed (Ila); his sisters, Pat & Carrie (Barney); and his sisters-in-law Jeanette and Marianne.

Ray is predeceased by his wife Dorothy; his daughter Robin; his parents Evelyn & Francis; his brothers Sonny, Fred, & John; and his brother-in-law Allan.

Visitation for Ray will be held Friday, April 4th from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Manns Family Funeral Home, 17000 Middlebelt, Livonia 48154.

Ray will be In-State for final visiting on Saturday, April 5th from 9:00 AM until the time of the funeral service at 10:00 AM at Orchard United Methodist Church, 30450 Farmington, Farmington Hills, 48334.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Orchard United Methodist Church at www.orchardumc.org or Stephan Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation through link located below.