Raymond Curtis Philen, Corpus Christi, passed away April 6, 2018, at a local hospital with his wife Jill at his side. He was the son of Leon Curtis Philen and Judy Todd Philen, deceased. He was born November 27, 1949, in Pt. Arthur, Tx., and was raised in Groves, Tx.

Ray began playing the saxophone at the age of 10 and became a professional musician shortly after. He played throughout the Southeast Texas area, South Texas, Dallas, Louisiana, Alabama, Nashvillle, Tenn., and southern Canada. A highlight of his musical career was playing with Jerry LaCroix and his band and The Boogie Kings. Among the greats he played with were Roy Orbison and The Righteous Brothers. He was co-owner of a nightclub in Nashville and performed there for seven years. He provided music in Corpus Christi and played with the band of The Episcopal Church of the Reconciliation and accompanied the choir of the Island in the Son United Methodist Church. In recent years he was a residential mortgage banker.

He is survived by Jill Philen, his wife of 37 years, Mocha, his faithful four- legged friend, his brother Richard Philen and his wife Judy, Beaumont, and his brother Brady Philen and his partner Clifford Dotson, Rosharon, Tx. Ray has a son by a former marriage, Jason Hogue and his wife Angela and family, Tomball, Tx. He has an aunt and uncle and countless cousins in Groves, Tx. and surrounding areas, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota and several nieces and nephews.

The Guardian Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family.

There will be no formal service.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made to a charity of your choice and that you consider becoming an organ donor.