Raymond C. Monette obit

Raymond C. Monette, "Ray"

May 7, 1946 - April 9, 2026 

He was not on the list.

Raymond Curtis Monette, born 7 May 1946, passed away on Thursday the 9th of April 2026. He was 79.

Born to Ernest Antoine Monette and Geraldine Grace (Trowbridge) Monette on the 7th of May 1946 in Redford, Michigan, Ray was raised in the suburbs of Detroit, and spent time at the family cabin near Central Lake as often as possible. He made many happy memories fishing with his father, later taking his sons, Raymond Curtis Monette II, and Adam James Monette to fish at the cabin.

On the 26th of November in 1966, Ray married his schoolmate and best friend, Judith Lee Ricketts. They gave birth to a daughter, Dawn Marie Monette on 26th March 1967. Ray and Judy lost Dawn to SIDS on 11 December 1968. In 1970, they became happy parents to Raymond Curtis, followed by Adam James in 1976. Both later became grandparents to Morgan Marie and Porter Lorien. Ray was a dedicated father and husband, proud of his devotion to his family and their shared life even while he made his living as a professional, touring musician. He was welcoming and kind to his daughters-in-law Brooke and Jennifer. He was loyal to family and friends, and built warm, loving relationships with his fellow musicians, who all cherished Ray and his commitment to positivity. He loved to be an uplifting spirit to all those around him.

At the tender age of 13, Ray announced to his parents that he had decided on his career path. He wanted to be a guitarist. Skeptical but supportive, his parents purchased his first guitar from Sears, and Ray devoted himself to learning the instrument. In 1965, he met legendary sessions musicians, bassist Bob Babbit and guitarist Eddie Willis, working together on Cool Jerk, his first recording as a studio musician. He soon met Jack Ashford and Joe Hunter, and, alongside Mike Campbell, began working as Jack’s in house guitar player for all the other groups. This led to doing sessions work at Motown and all the other Detroit studios at the time, along with all the other Funk Brothers, or Funks, as they referred to one another. From Ray’s private writings, he says, “I did work with Earl, Eddie, Babbitt, Eddie Bongo, James, Johnny Griffith, Robert, Uriel, Pistol, Joe Hunter, and Jack at the various Detroit studios. The one Funk Brother that I never played with was Benny Benjamin. He passed before I had a chance to.”

Eventually, he was asked to join Rare Earth, and formally became a Motown artist. He left sessions work and spent the next 33 years touring and recording with Rare Earth. In 2004, he was asked to rejoin the Funk Brothers just before they appeared on American Idol. Of that time, he writes, “For myself, and the guys, it was like going full circle and returning to dear, old friends…it was like all the time I was away ceased to exist…it was a very happy reunion.”

Ray spread his love of music to his children, teaching his son and granddaughter to play guitar. He was a patient man with a passion for life, quietly demonstrating his faith without overt declaration, simply by living his life with love for all and trying to live his values through his daily choices. Ray will be missed by many. We thank him for his living a good life for all of us to share. May he rest in peace.

Ray was predeceased by his parents, daughter, brother Lanny David Monette, and grandson Porter Lorien Creasman. Ray is survived by his wife Judy, sons Ray (Jen) and Adam (Brooke), granddaughter Morgan, sister Patricia Luca, and many nieces and nephews.

The Monette family will receive guests Sunday, April 26, 2-6 pm at the funeral home. Please join his family during this time to share your memories and stories with them.

Please keep the Monette family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.