Ray Houk

Ray Houk, 72, of St. Martin, died unexpectedly Friday, April 6, 2012 at the Clermont Mercy Hospital in Batavia.

He was born August 16, 1939 in Brown County, the son of the late Joseph C. and Mary R. Huffner Houk.

Mr. Houk was the CEO of Ray Houk Realty, a lifetime member of St. Martin Chapel of St. Angela Merici Parish.

He began his career as a real estate salesman as the manager of the Blanchester Branch of the Bailey Murphy Company. He went on to become a licensed auctioneer and real estate appraiser receiving his broker’s license in 1980. In 2006, he was chosen by Gov. Bob Taft to serve as one of five members for the state of Ohio on the Ohio Real Estate Appraisal Board and continued in this capacity under Gov. Ted Strickland and Gov. John Kasich.

He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1958 and began working for Bill Cochran selling farm machinery and later worked for Roe Construction Company. He was a man with many loves. Among those were his family, his friends and his farm. One of his most enjoyable times was the spring calving season at the farm.

He was a member of numerous organizations and an honorary member of the Fayetteville Fire Department.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Agnes Berger Houk. Mr. and Mrs. Houk were planning for their 50-year marriage celebration, as they were married on May 12, 1962. Also surviving are two daughters, Joanne (James) Arlinghaus of Burlington, Ky., and Tamera Houk of Goshen; three sons, Greg (Tina) Houk of Fayetteville, John (Cassandra) Houk of Lynchburg, and Ryan (Brandi) Houk of Fayetteville; 12 grandchildren; one sister, Moira (Randy) McKamey of New Vienna; two brothers, Joseph N. Houk of St. Martin and Frank (Cathy) Houk of Fayetteville.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Lindsey Nicole Houk; and one brother, John P. Houk.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 12 at St. Martin Chapel of St. Angela Merici Parish. Father Mike Paraniuk will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Martin Cemetery. Friends will be received on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Davis-Turner Funeral Home in Lynchburg.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 644 Linn Street, Suite 304, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, the American Heart Association, 15102 Collection Center Drive, (15120=Lbx #), Chicago, Ill. 60693, the Ronald McDonald Foundation, 350 Erkenbrecher Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, the Brown County Ursulines, 20860 S.R. 251, St. Martin, Ohio 45118 or the Fayetteville Fire and Rescue, 100 Apple Street, Fayetteville, Ohio 45118.

For more information, visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.