Raymond J. Hudachek

Raymond J. Hudachek, June 24, 1926 – July 12, 2011 Raymond J. Hudachek, born June 24, 1926 in Iowa City, Iowa died at his home in Ocean Springs, MS on July 12, 2011. He was a resident of Ocean Springs and a member of St. Alphonsus parish since 1963. He was 85 years old. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, John and Amelia Hudachek of Hot Springs, AK; brother Harold Hudachek of Stillwater, MN. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maureen Hudachek; daughter Mary Anne Deierlein, son-in-law Greg Deierlein, grandchildren Katie, Nina and Nick Deierlein of Palo Alto, CA; son Bill Hudachek and daughter-in-law Bobbie Jean Hudachek of Ocean Springs, MS. Ray was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. He enjoyed a boyhood full of adventures and hobbies such as winning races in soap box derbies and becoming an Eagle Scout. His toothpick sculptures were featured in Boy’s Life Magazine in the 1930’s. He was known for his Halloween pranks with friends, one year dismantling and reassembling a Model T truck on a neighbors’ roof. He moved with his parents to New Orleans, LA for the last two years of high school. Ray graduated from Warren Easton Boys’ High School in New Orleans, LA. Ray served his country twice in the military. After graduation from high school, Ray enlisted in the U.S Army Infantry Division during World War II. Ray earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant after training at Camp Fannin, TX and was then sent to the Philippines, where the US forces were preparing the invasion of Japan. The war ended shortly after Ray arrived in the Philippines, but Ray continued his service at a U.S. prisoner of war camp. During this time made friends with a Japanese engineer and soldier, whom he kept in contact with in later years. Ray was honorably discharged in 1946. Ray returned to Iowa and entered the engineering department at University of Iowa in Iowa City. During his junior year, Ray was introduced to classmate and the love of his life, Maureen Russell. Their sixty plus year relationship was ignited during a thrilling sled adventure where they both were thrown in opposite directions one snowy afternoon. Along with his brother Harold Hudachek and Norman Hunstad (best friend and later, Best Man), Ray was member of Tau Beta Pi and Theta Tau honorary engineering fraternities graduating with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, Ray went to work at Standard Oil of Ohio in Lima, Ohio. After working a year, he was called back for a two year tour duty in the Korean Conflict. Ray and Maureen has one week to plan their wedding in Iowa City and honeymoon in New Orleans before Ray shipped off to Korea. Ray served two years in the U.S. Army Core of Engineers serving as an officer and combat engineer in the 323rd Light Equipment Engineer Company. The main mission was to operate equipment to support the military operations. From building roads to supplying bunkers to pouring concrete floors for the mobile army surgical hospitals, their company kept the front lines moving while in constant danger. He was honorably discharged in 1953. In late 1980’s, the remaining members of the 323rd Company began holding reunions. Ray hosted the third reunion at his home in 1991. Ray and Maureen were reunited after the Korean Conflict in California where Ray became a refinery engineer at the Standard Oil of California Richmond Refinery. The family spent many weekends and vacations hiking and camping in Yosemite and the Trinity Alps. Ray became an avid mountain climber summiting Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta and Half Dome. Ray was a true self-starter and “do-it-yourselfer” spending much of his spare time restoring antique cars and completing extraordinary home projects. While in California, Ray became a licensed Professional Engineer and received a certificate in Industrial Management from the University of California at Berkeley in 1958. In 1960, Chevron made the decision to build a refinery in Pascagoula, MS they decided to use their own engineers instead of outside engineering contractors for the project. Ray was assigned to the project in 1963. The family settled in Ocean Springs after finding the perfect house on Jackson Avenue at Front Beach. After completion, the refinery came on line with production 125% of design capability. The success of the Pascagoula Refinery project led to consulting assignments on the design and build of new refining facilities as well as increasing production in various facilities around the world. In March of 1965, Ray accepted a special assignment at the CalTex Raunheim Refinery in Germany. The family moved to Bad Hamburg, Germany returning to Ocean Springs July 1966. In the late 1960’s, Ray was one the founding stockholders, and served as Vice President of R.F. Ederer Net and Twine Company of Ocean Springs, MS for many years. Through years of building the business and many family gatherings, the Hudachek and Ederer families have remained lifelong friends. Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, Ray advised and recruited engineering students from Iowa, Mississippi and Florida, and gave his time to serve many professional committees and community organizations: ASME, Society of Professional Engineers, Mississippi Society of Professional Engineers, University of Iowa College of Engineering Advisory Committee, Mississippi State University College of Engineering Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Ocean Springs Planning Commission, member of the Jackson County Planning Commission, member of the Governors’ Emergency Council Board of Appeals and Adjustment for the Reconstruction of the Mississippi Gulf Coast following Hurricane Camille, Jackson County Commission member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Transportation Authority, Chevron Company Representative-Governor’s Office- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Bahamian Representative World Maritime Organization-London, The American Legion Emile Ladnier Post 42. Ray was Chief Engineer of the Pascagoula Refinery in the late 1970’s. Additionally, he was Project Manager on the proposed Petromin/Chevron/Texaco Joint Venture, the Jubail Lube Oil Refinery Project commuting to New Jersey for a year. Ray and Maureen left the U.S on foreign assignments in 1978 when Ray became the President of Chevron Chemical Company in Guayama, Puerto Rico. They returned to New Jersey where Ray resumed work on the proposed Jubail Lube Oil Refinery Project. The next assignments took them to Saudi Arabia for several years where Ray was General Manager of the Yanbu LPG Plant near Jeddah, and General Manager of the Ras Tanura Refinery near Dhahran. These were interesting times in that part of the world. The fall of the Shah of Iran and the start of Khomeini’s reign, the Persian Gulf War could be heard from their home on the gulf in Ras Tanura, and beginning of the Islamic fundamentalism in the region. Ray and Maureen took Arabic lessons and purchased a Chevy Blazer to explore Saudi Arabia during their time there. Ray’s last assignment prior to retirement was the position of President of Bahamas Oil Refining Company (BORCO) in Freeport, Grand Bahamas. Returning to Ocean Springs upon his retirement in 1986, Ray was very active in Rotary. He had originally joined Rotary in Puerto Rico. Ray participated in many club activities, chaired many committees, and held an After–Xmas-Xmas Party. As Rotary GSE Team Leader to Australia, he organized and led a memorable adventure down under. Ray and his wife Maureen were avid runners since the late 1960’s registering in races around the U.S. Ray organized the first Ocean Springs Rotary 10K race. He was a Paul Harris Fellow five times and club president 1989-90 and Rotarian of the Year – Ocean Springs 1991-1992. Ray particularly enjoyed serving on the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Walter Anderson during the fundraising phase for the building of the WAMA museum. It was an honor for him to serve on the Bishops’ Finance Council – Diocese of Biloxi. In the summer of 2005 there were two opportunities for Ray’s time on earth to end. His wife Maureen’s heroic efforts pulled him to safety from the bottom of their lap pool in June. On the morning of August 29, Maureen, Ray and their dog Mandy hurried to safety behind their garage where they huddled together for five hours as Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home and neighborhood. Ray and Maureen spent the next three years rebuilding a replica of their 1860’s historic home while living in their small cottage and FEMA trailer. Ray suffered from Parkinson’s since 1995. His wife Maureen lovingly and tirelessly cared for him at home in recent years. Ray was at home and in hospice care surrounded by the family when he died. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the loving and professional care given to Ray and family by Comfort Keepers (Jennifer Gill, Daphne Johnson), Saad’s Home Health Care and Hospice Care (Jo Ann Lizana, Hiep Nguyen, Gloria Kostmayer, Nick Bosarge, Rose Sliman, Debbie Davis). Their outstanding care, support, advice and 24-hour availability gave the family the confidence and courage to care and keep Ray comfortable at home. In lieu of flowers at the family’s request donations can be made to the St. Alphonsus School Endowment Fund. All are invited to a visitation at 6:30 pm and rosary at 7:30 pm on Tuesday July 19, 2011 at Bradford-O’Keefe in Ocean Springs. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday July 20, 2011 at 11 am at St. Alphonsus Church in Ocean Springs. Following the burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs, there will be a reception at the Hudachek home on 314 Jackson Avenue in Ocean Springs. All are invited to attend.