Raymond De La Cruz, age 60, of Austin, Texas passed away unexpectedly on May 1, 2009 from cardiac arrest after complications with congestive heart failure. Raymond was born and raised in Lampasas, Texas. Despite a lack of formal education, he became a successful, self-made and self-taught businessman. He learned electronics and the TV repair trade as a teenage apprentice and went on to own several TV repair shops for 30 years. He also owned a small restaurant and a park concession in Lampasas. He married young at 17 and raised a family of three children. In his youth, Raymond was such a talented baseball player for the winning central Texas team known as the Chaparrals, that he was recruited to play for a farm team of the Houston Astros. Due to family obligations, it was an unfulfilled dream. An outdoorsman, Raymond was a brave bronc buster who loved to fish and hunt and later became an avid birdwatcher. He was also very proud of his native American - Apache roots. After a divorce and remarriage, Raymond relocated to Austin, Texas in 1988 and opened his last business, East Austin TV and VCR, in the midst of a then tough, gang-ridden corner of Chicon and Cesar Chavez. He gained the trust and respect of the neighborhood and the location became the venue for many East Austin fundraisers and political events. After his kids were grown and following his second divorce, Raymond had a chance to live out some youthful pursuits. He loved to frequent his ?honky tonks and beer joints? for music and camaraderie. A man?s man, who the ladies found irresistible, he was always accompanied by an entourage of fans and admirers. After electronic technological advancements made his business unprofitable, he was forced to close it and seek employment. He briefly worked with Col-Com and PSS Services before medically retiring due to health issues. During this period, he returned to his love of music and perfected his self-taught guitar-picking and began playing his saxophone again, serving as therapy to regain his strength and limb mobility. Using his innate musical talents as a lyricist, arranger and composer, with his son Randy, he produced two musical CDs of which he was extremely proud and hoped to market on CD Baby. Despite recent surgeries and confinement to a wheelchair for several months, with the assistance of his reliable helper, he managed to pursue his love of gardening, landscaping and various household-remodeling projects which gave him much happiness and pleasure. Raymond met his surviving wife, Elena Diaz, then a young lawyer, seventeen years ago and after many years of mutual attraction, love and respect they finally married two years ago at Cristo Rey Church accompanied by friends and family. Their selected scripture for their marriage was: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift his Companion. Eccl.4:9 Raymond was devoted to his two granddaughters, Jessica and Chloe. He enjoyed attending Jessica?s basketball games and the football games to watch her cheerleading. He was proud of her excellent academic achievements. Three-year old Chloe was his constant companion and ?little helper? during his recent recovery from foot surgery. A devout Catholic, Raymond served as an alter boy and throughout his life put his faith in God. He is survived by beloved wife Elena Diaz DeLaCruz, 3 Loving Children: Maggie Cano, Victoria Cano, Randy DeLaCruz, 2 brothers: Robert DeLaCruz, Rey DeLaCruz, One sister: Lori Rivera, 2 granddaughters, Jessica and Chloe. Recitation of Holy Rosary will be on Sunday at 6:00pm at the Mission Funeral Home Remembrance Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 10:00am at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Jamie Mathias officiating. Internment will follow in Assumption Cemetery. Pallbearers will be; Randy DeLaCruz, Genaro Cano, Jose Luis Cano, Rico DeLaCruz, Ryan DeLaCruz and Daniel Diaz.