Raymond Gonzalez, Jr., 60, of Beaumont, died Sunday, September 29, 2013. He was born January 19, 1953, to Ramona Figueroa Gonzalez and Ramon Gonzalez, in New York, New York. Raymond was a United States Army veteran, National Guard Reservist, musician in the United States Army Military Band, and a retired administrator for the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Raymond was a Grammy award winning world-renown musician. He attended The School of the Performing Arts in New York City, Manhattan School of Music, and Conservatory of Music in Panama. He was a musician in the Count Basie Orchestra, performed on Broadway, and was the lead trumpet player for Tito Puente’s Orchestra and Tito Puente’s Sextet.Raymond also studied at the Latin American Bible Institute in Manhattan.
Survivors include his wife, Amanda Gonzalez of Lantana, Florida; son, Raymond D. Gonzalez and his wife, Beverly, of The Bronx, New York; daughters, Lorinda Y. Gonzalez, Melanie A. Gonzalez, and Carmen E. Gonzalez, all of Lantana, Florida; grandchildren, Andres, Sophia, and Elijah; mother, Ramona Figueroa-Velez of Orlando, Florida; sisters, Rachel Gonzalez and Rebecca Gonzalez; brother, Richard Gonzalez; and aunts, Carmen, Anna, Genevieve, Hilda, Laura, and Nilda.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Ronald Gonzalez.
A gathering of Mr. Gonzalez’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2013, at Calvary Baptist Church, 3650 Dowlen Road, Beaumont. A family committal will be held at Houston National Cemetery, Houston.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Music Department, 3650 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
