Norman Fountain Raif

Norman Fountain Raif, of East Lake Limestone (Jewett), passed away at Providence Hospital on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at age 87. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Lee Weiler of the “All Around Cowboy Church” of Marquez officiating. Norman was born February 8, 1928 in Houston to Victor Jno Raif and Fannie Bell (Langford)Raif. At age 14, he was working at a gas station, and as he loved cars, he developed mechanic skills at a young age which he would use all of his life. He joined the Merchant Marines, which provided supply support to the U. S. troops, and was able to travel around the world, enjoying his trips to many ports and foreign countries. He next worked for the Houston Police Department for many years as mechanic of their vehicles. Then Norman went to work for Phillips Crane and Rigging, out of Houston, where he became the head mechanic in the construction of the cranes that were used in oil and gas developments, concrete plants, and aluminum plants around the world. As well as his work in the United States, he taught and supervised the men who put together the huge cranes on jobs in foreign countries, including Egypt, Germany, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. He also worked on the construction of the Alaskan pipeline, with headquarters in Valdez, Alaska. So he worked in the hottest of desert conditions to the coldest and deepest snows. The employees he trained and supervised were residents of the foreign countries, and he was able to work with them and also comply with the customs and requirements of each country. One of the keys of his success in his work was being able to work with anyone and teach them in spite of the language and social barriers. If a job was needed to be done, Norman was considered to be the man who could get it done. While Norman was working in the Dominican Republic, he met and married Angelita Barcelo. After the job was completed there, they made their home for many years in the United States. Although she moved back to her home country in later years, they remained very close friends. Norman loved hunting and fishing all his life. Back in 1961 he started leasing property for hunting in the Texas Hill Country from the Lich family, and developed a close relationship with the family while hunting there for the next 34 years. The Lich’s son, Vernon became like a son to Norman, and he was a second father and grandfather to Vernon and the whole family. Norman retired in 1991 and moved to Lake Limestone to continue his lifelong love of hunting and fishing. He had fished in many locations, and chose to live at Lake Limestone due to the peaceful surroundings there. He loved fishing in the lake, and would take anyone and everyone out on his boat. He especially loved taking the Lich boys fishing. Norman volunteered his mechanic services to work on the equipment for the East Lake Limestone Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed his neighbors, and was the “go-to-man” on the east side of the lake to repair everything from vintage cars to lawn mowers. He mowed quite a few yards for others while his health was better, and then later his friends took care of him, visiting and bringing food. Norman’s survivors are Vernon Lich and his wife, Janice; and the boys he considered his grandsons, Vance Lich, Travis Lich, and Ryan Lich, all of Comfort, TX.; and all of his close friends from the lake.