Raymond Ray Charles Prusa

Raymond Charles Prusa, 79, of Lake Charles died Sunday, July 24, 2011 in a local hospital.

Mr. Prusa was born, raised and educated in Chicago, IL. He received a football scholarship to University of Tulsa and later a basketball scholarship to Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma where he attained his Bachelor's degree. He served the United States Army. Mr. Prusa worked as an engineer nearly thirty years for Citgo Petroleum before retiring. He worked his younger years as a Draftsman and Construction Supervisor of Citgo Quik Marts. In 1978, he transferred to Citgo Lake Charles, continued designing and became Construction Engineer of Citgo Quik Marts locally and finished his career as purchasing agent for Citgo.

Mr. Prusa enjoyed weekly card games, decoration of crafts and was an avid sports fan. He especially enjoyed traveling with his family, golfing and scuba diving after his retirement. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club (having been the Kiwanis Club Santa for children for many years) SW Investors, the Dive Club, Poker Buddies and the Coffee Vampires.

He will be most remembered for his wisdom, witty personality, grace in dance and his famous swan dive.

He leaves to honor his memory, his wife of 57 years, Leah "Alice" Prusa of Lake Charles; four children, Gary Stephen Prusa and wife Debbie of Rockford, IL, Nancy Rae Walters and husband Tom of Douglasville, GA, Lisa Lynne Sonnier and husband Leland of Lake Charles and Peggy Jean Bourque and fiance' Kevin Duplechin of Sulphur; fourteen grandchildren, Angela, Gary Ray, Amanda, Fallon, Stephanie, Stacy, Jessica, Ashley, Brittany, Candice, Leland II, Chancellor, Charlie and Olyvia; three great-grandchildren, Luke, Hudson and Kennedy and his oldest brother, Richard Prusa of Pensacola, FL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Emily Prusa; brother, Ronald Prusa; daughter, Donna Marie Prusa and granddaughter, Melissa Beth Prusa.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, July 28, 2011 in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Monsignor Danny Torres will officiate. Interment will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation at Johnsons Funeral Home Wednesday will be from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a scripture service and rosary beginning at6:00 PM. Visitation will continue Thursday from 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM in the funeral home.