Ray Camon Buller

Ray Camon Buller entered the Gates of Heaven December 20, 2022, as a good and faithful servant of the Heavenly Father. He was given the gift of 79 years here on earth, and he enjoyed every single one of them to the glory of God and to the love and care of his family and community.

Born to Ray Collinson Buller and Mattie Roselle Buller nee Perry on July 5th, 1943, in the mining town of Morenci, Arizona. His father soon joined the Navy and the whole family moved to California where Ray built ships for the US Navy. As a small child, Camon was a blonde toddler, with a California tan, going to the shipyards and watching in wonder as the giant behemoths of the sea were crafted by his father's capable hands. Camon's love of the sea eventually became a 27-year career with the United States Navy. After Camon's father was discharged from the military, he spent his youth in Farmington, NM. He helped his father build their home and run the family farm. During his youth, he gave his heart to the Lord and began a life-long commitment to following in the steps of his savior. He was an excellent student at Farmington High School, and sang tenor in a barbershop quartet under Mr. Turano.

Ray Camon was the first member, of either side, of his family to earn a college degree. He received his Bachelor of Science degree, in Industrial Technology and Industrial Management, with honors, while working a full-time job. He was an active member in Chi Alpha, a Christian fraternity. He also managed to woo the love of his life while he was a student at Eastern New Mexico University.

Camon and Bettye met at church and both were immediately smitten. The two began a whirlwind romance and got engaged soon after. They were both students at ENMU when they got married over spring break, April 13, 1963. He was married to the love of his life, and best friend, Bettye Marie Crawford, for 59 years. He was a romantic at heart and lavishly bestowed gifts, jewelry, poetic cards, and flowers on his adoring bride, never forgetting a birthday, anniversary, or special occasion.

After he graduated from college, Camon and Bettye moved to Santa Fe so he could work for the State Highway Department. He then landed a dream job with Shell Oil and the couple moved to Texas. In the midst of the Vietnam War, Camon enlisted in the United States Navy and they sent him to Officer Training School where he volunteered to serve in Vietnam. The United States Military, in all their wisdom, assigned him to work in the Mediterranean Sea. He was stationed out of Norfolk, Virginia, on the U.S.S. Mountrail, a troop transport ship. He ferried Marines around the globe, including Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Malta, and France. He was on active duty during the Six-Day War. He loved serving on the seas and taking quiet moments to stare, in awe, at God's creation.

The military, wishing to utilize his brilliant mind, sent him to Sandia Army Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he was an instructor at the Nuclear Training Directorate. Always a humble and witty man, when people would quizzically ask what a Navy man was doing stationed in the middle of the desert, he would smile, and with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes, would say "I am a member of the Rio Grande Yacht Club, and we race submarines up and down the Rio Grande, all the way to the Ocean."

When he was honorably discharged from active duty, he joined the reserves and eventually rose to the rank of Captain. After leaving the military, he worked for the family business, American Tank and Steel, and he later started a successful independent insurance agency. While he possessed a well-developed work ethic, he also always took the time to have fun, listen to music, take long drives, go on vacations, and eat scrumptious meals.

Camon and Bettye had one son, a much loved and very wanted, Kyle Camon Buller. As a father, Camon was very hands on, a doting and devoted parent. When the family moved back to Farmington, in 1981, soccer was not a high school sports program. To make sure his soccer loving son had the opportunity to play he, and Gordon Glass, spearheaded the process to get soccer instated as a sport at Farmington High School, Go Scorpions.

Family was so important to him. Camon was an amazing father to Kyle and his wife, Debra. He also adored his grandchildren: Kristin, Camon, and Avalyn. Kristin married Steven and added two great-grandchildren Cora and Octavian. Camon Alexander Buller, named after his wonderful grandfather, shared his grandfather's love of technology and the joy of puns. Avalyn Ruth, only 13 years old, shares a profoundly musical nature with her beloved Papa and he loved listening to her play the piano.

Camon was the proud, and loving, big brother to six younger brothers and sisters. His brother Melvin preceded him in death, but he will be missed by his remaining siblings: Neil (Vanda), Don (Yvette), Darla, Kent, and Melody. Camon's 10 nieces and nephews from his side of the family are joined by Bettye's eleven nieces and nephews from her side of the family who have also lost their Uncle Camon.

He was in possession of a keen and nimble mind, regularly surrounded by books, and inquisitive and creative in the way he viewed the world. He was a man's man, a crack shot, an outdoorsman, an officer, and a gentleman. During his life he was as adept at being an actual warrior as he was at being a prayer warrior. He was a kind and magnanimous man; his quiet and unassuming generosity was poured out upon so many organizations and people in need. He regularly supported Four Corners Home for Children, Wounded Warrior, Navy Memorial Fund, Samaritan's Purse, the Republican Party of New Mexico, and his local church Hills Community Church.

He was a world traveler who had been to France, Malta, Turkey, Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, and his favorite place in the whole world was sitting on Waikiki Beach, as the sun set into the Pacific while his wife, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids played in the sand.

Letters and cards of condolence, and celebration of his life, are welcome, but in lieu of flowers, please make a generous donation to either the Four Corners Home for Children or the Wounded Warrior Project.

A celebration of his life will be held December 30th at 10:00 am, Hills Community Church at 5101 N. Dustin Avenue, Farmington, New Mexico 87401