Raymond ‘Jay’ Vates

October 29, 1947 - October 15, 2021

SANTEE — Known as Jay by all! Jay was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a retired Master Chief in the United States Navy where he served 23 years. After his navy retirement, he eventually retired again as a systems training engineer from Raytheon and then Northrop Grumman. He is survived by his childhood sweetheart “the love of his life” and wife of 51 years, Ginger, his two daughters Kelly and Tammy, and two grandchildren, Alek and Sydney. He is also survived by his elder sister, Joyce. Jay had many hobbies, playing golf, playing cards, walking, and swimming, but one of his favorite pastimes was watching his grandkids play sports. He made sure to go all of Alek’s high school lacrosse games and all of Sydney’s softball games (high school, travel ball and college). He was known as the “team grandpa” to all her teammates! He was no stranger to letting everyone know what was on his mind, most of all the umpires. He “may” have gotten ejected a time or two! He was a man of few words, but for those that knew him, you always knew where you stood with him. One of his mottos was “say what you mean and mean what you say!” One thing we knew for sure is that he loved his family more than anything and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for any of us.

He will be missed by many and loved beyond eternity!

Funeral will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Miramar National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow at at 12:00 p.m. at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee.