RAYMOND SUEO MORI's Obituary
RAYMOND MORI Obituary
Raymond Sueo Mori was born on August 18, 1932 to Tadahiro and Matsue (Kido) Mori in Laupahoehoe, Hawaii on the Plantation Camp. He was the youngest of four children. He attended and graduated from Laupahoehoe High School in 1950. He later enlisted in the US Air Force in December 1951 with a honorable discharge in 1955.
When returning to Honolulu he worked for his oldest brother in the commercial and residential painting business. In August 1958 he founded Island Flooring Company. Like any new business Raymond had his struggles. Why? First of all he couldn’t resist but married the love of his life Carol on January 25, 1958. Dating for only 6 months there was no way he was going to let this girl go. Then in October his first child, Rayanne was born. Talk about a full plate. However as time passed Raymond was determined and perservered onward, his company flourished as one of the most successful businesses on the island. Carol joined the company in 1969 and together they were “Unstoppable”.
Growing up on the Big Island our dad was always a country boy at heart. I bet some of you didn't know that he had fruit trees and had a small vegetable garden at his house. Yes he did. He had his mango, pomelo, avocado trees, manoa lettuce, basil, green onions and tomatoes. He would share his veggies with the cook at the club to use. Talk about organic, he was doing this years ago. But then later he would come home and complain to Carol, "where's the rest of my vegetables?" Carol gave the rest away to their friends or their neighbors.
The other passion he had on his free time was Raymond found the game of golf. Oh he had a love hate relationship for this game. However and I quote, “Why do I get up early and chase this stupid white ball for 18 holes? But you know there was a time that I was the youngest player with my group, now I’m the oldest player and I have such wonderful group of guys that I play and talk story with at the club which makes it all worth it.” Along with his golf buddies we can’t forget his Zippy’s coffee boys. This private group of guys met every morning Monday-Friday and tried to solve the problems of the world. This was a tight group of guys that we could never join them. He loved to hear a good joke, but was awful at telling you one. He always messed up the punch line. Were not sure if this was a gift or sin but our dad could "Gab". He was quite the conversationalist, and could talk about almost anything even if it wasn’t true. However when it came to his business and learning about all the different products in the floor covering world, he was on it like no bodies business. He was a dedicated husband, dad, Tutu and friend. That’s our dad… our one and only who we loved and respected.
He was an active Trustee with the Carpet Linoleum Soft Tile Local Union 1926 always looking out for his installers, along with Honolulu Country Club in various committees.
In 2015 the dual team decided to call it quits and sold their company. Raymond did pretty much anything Carol wanted him to do. Whether it was going to watch their grand kids, running errands, going down to Masa's every week day for lunch, and of course he played golf three times a week.
No matter where he was or what he was doing he had this infectious smile, that on numerous occasion he was criticized for smiling too much to people. He will be missed by his family and friends. We know that after Carol’s passing which was only eight months ago Raymond really missed her dearly, and mentioned to his children that he wanted to be with her. We want to believe that Raymond and Carol were soulmates and can only hope that they have reunited once again. “Carol telling Raymond what to do!”
In 2005 our dad was diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In January 2018 he started chemotherapy and passed on Saturday, July 7, 2018 with pneumonia. He is survived by his children, Rayanne, Robin (Suzy), and Roxanne. Grandchildren Danica, Royce, Rocklen, Raymie, and Rylie; siblings Leslie, and Ethel Sasaki. Preceded in death his wife Carol who just died in October 2017 and brother Wallace. Raymond requested no public service and his children want to honor him so with your friends and/or family raise your glasses and salute a life well lived. Our dad had no regrets, he lived his life every day to the fullest as if it was his last. If you would like to make a gift, memorials may be made to www.cancer.org/about-us/local/hawaii.html in his name.
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