Raymond G. Curran, Jr.

It’s been said that some people are born with gifts in their hands — and for Ray Curran, affectionately known as “Bo” by friends and family, that gift was the ability to create. He could fix or build just about anything from his earliest days growing up in the West End of Louisville. He was a natural craftsman — a carpenter, a tinkerer, an artist.

If it was broken, people brought it to Ray. Lawnmowers, furniture, go-carts, toys, signs — didn’t matter what it was, he’d find a way to get it running again. There wasn’t a small engine he couldn’t bring back to life. And if you asked him how he did it, he’d probably just shrug and say, “It just needed a doo-hickey.”

Ray’s garage was his sanctuary — the hum of an engine, the smell of sawdust, the buzz of a radio in the background. He built furniture that would outlast even the best in most furniture stores and he could turn a pile of scrap wood into a work of art.

But Ray was more than just a man who could fix things — he was a man who built a life full of love, laughter, and purpose.

He was a father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He coached baseball, managed ball fields, hand painted signs and was a devoted parishioner to St. Athanasius for many years.

Ray loved music, too. A self-taught musician and choir member, he could sing with the same care he brought to his craftsmanship. Whether it was playing a tune or sharing a laugh, his joy was contagious. Humor was a big part of who he was, no dad-joke was off limits.

Ray was also a dancer, a dog lover, a pool player, a bowler, an athlete and a friend to many. He was a daughter’s dance partner, a dollhouse builder, a son’s baseball coach and our in-house go cart builder and mechanic. His dancing skills are what first made his beautiful wife, Margie, take notice.

Ray was a proud military veteran of the United States Army, where he served as an MP. He was drafted three years after getting married and was stationed as Fort Bragg, where he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal upon discharge once his service was complete.

If there was a problem, Ray would grab his tools and get to work — not just on machines, but on life. And now, as we gather to say goodbye, it’s hard not to imagine that maybe God must have found something He couldn’t fix, so He called Ray up to get it done.

Ray Curran’s life was a masterclass in resourcefulness, love and humor. He showed us that a good heart, a steady hand and a little bit of duct tape could hold a lot together — including family, community and memories that will last forever.

Today, we honor the man who could fix anything, love deeply, laugh loudly and leave the world a little better — and a lot sturdier — than he found it.

Ray is survived by his wife Margie (Bernardi), his children – Susan (Henken), Jason (Shannon) and Patrick, grandchildren- Kelsie, Noah, Caroline, Addison and Waylon, great-grandchild - Ellie, his sister - Patsy Sizemore, his brother - Teddy and many other beloved family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Sr. and Louise (Schraffenberger) and his sister Betty (Yoakam).

The family would like to thank Ray and Margie’s neighbor, Dawn Groulx, for her graciousness in helping care for Ray over the past year. We would also like to thank Hosparus Health for the care that they provided to Ray over these last couple of months.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (235 Juneau Drive Louisville, KY 40243).

Mass will be held at 10am on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at St. Athanasius Catholic Church (5915 Outer Loop, Louisville, KY 40219).

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