Marie Raymus — who co-founded Give Every Child a Chance’s free tutoring program with her late husband Antone Raymus — passed away Sunday. She was 85.
GECAC now helps more than 3,000 youth annually through free tutoring as well as after school enrichment programs.
Antone parlayed his first rental home in San Mateo into what at one time was the largest development firm in the South County to the point that one out of every four homes existing in Manteca during the 1980s were Raymus built. Antone passed away in 2004 at age 87.
Antone returned to his native Azores nearly 60 years ago and brought his bride back to Manteca to begin a love story that continued even after his passing.  He had asked Marie to take out her oils once again and paint him a peaceful landscape – an art form she had not used for years.  It was a painting of a mountain scene that he could put on the wall of his Yosemite Avenue real estate office behind his desk that she had planned to give him for Fathers’ Day.
Antone would never see that painting as he was stricken with a fatal heart attack.
After Antone’s passing, Marie headed up Raymus Development and Sales.
“He asked me to help keep the (Give Very Child a Chance) program going after his death,” she was quoted as saying in 2011.
She said after his death that she regretted not having become a part of the business early on when he asked her to be involved and learn the in and outs of the real estate operation.  Marie said she felt it was her job to be at home with the children and to serve as one of the Manteca Hospital Pink Ladies – a tenure of some 21 years.
Marie was also heavily involved with the Raymus Foundation that awards non-profits in the community grants to help improve the lives of the young, old and needy.
Marie was born December 1, 1932. Services are pending under the direction of P.L. Fry and Son in Manteca.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.