Raymond James Veitch, a true Mesillero, died on Sunday, May 14, 2017 after a rich and adventurous life. He was born on September 3, 1921 in La Mesilla, New Mexico, the first born child of Erminda Fountain Veitch and Raymond James Veitch. He was a great-grandson of Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain, the prominent Mesilla citizen, soldier, and statesman. He attended school in La Mesilla, at Holy Cross School, and graduated from Las Cruces High School. As a child and young man, he was famous for his singing and dancing. Starting at about the age of 5 he would perform with his younger sister, Mary Veitch Alexander, wearing costumes made by their grandmother, Teresita Garcia Fountain. While at Holy Cross on Main Street he served as an altar server and participated in the Hundred Voice Boys Choir. His father died in 1935 and at the age of 13 he took on the role of Man of the House, working after school in the sugar beet fields, turning his wages over to his mother to help raise his seven younger siblings. As a young man he sometimes played the piano at the Fountain Theater in the time of silent movies.He entered the Navy in 1942, immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, continuing to support his mother and family. He served in the South Pacific through all of WWII, first as a Seaman, and then as Corpsman. After returning from the Navy in 1946 with an honorable discharge, he thought of going back to school to become a doctor but he was, instead, encouraged to study art and become a teacher by his aunt Elizabeth Fountain Armendariz . He received a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters of Arts, both from NMSU.He was the first traveling art teacher for the Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) District, teaching for over 40 years at White Sands, Mesilla Park, and Mesilla Elementary schools, as well as Mayfield High School, where he retired after many years. He was responsible for painting and refinishing the statues in the Basilica of San Albino's several times in his lifetime. He painted the Stations of the Cross after traveling to Jerusalem to "see" the colors and make them as lifelike as possible. Raymond applied all the gold-leafing on the main altar of San Albino's.He was responsible for initiating a Living Pictures program at the schools in La Mesilla. It was modeled after a similar event in Laguna Beach, California, where famous works of art would be chosen and then students would dress and pose to recreate the art work. He also developed the art program for the LCPS. Raymond was a world traveler, visiting Mexico, Egypt, The Holy Land, and many places in Europe, as well as Japan and various places in Southeast Asia while in the Navy.He was a voracious reader of wildly diverse books, lover of movies, theater, and opera throughout his whole life.He was a life-long active member of the parish of San Albino, serving for many years as the organist in the choir, accompanying his mother, his aunt Elizabeth, and his sisters.He was preceded in death by his brother, Tommy Veitch; his sisters, Elizabeth Veitch McComas, Mary Veitch Alexander, and Rosalie Ann Veitch Rader. He is survived by his dear sisters, Mabel Veitch Mora, Lorraine Veitch Harvey, and Eugenia "Jean" Veitch Kombusky, and beloved brother-in-law, Dr. Robert E. McComas and his wife Priscilla, as well as his sister-in-law Blanca Veitch Strange, and innumerable nieces and nephews down three generations.Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be Friday, May 19, 2017 at 7 PM at the Basilica of San Albino, 2070 Calle de Santiago in La Mesilla. His life will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 10 AM at the same church. Inurnment of Cremains will follow with military honors accorded by a US Navy Honor Guard and the Marine Corps League – El Perro Diablo Detachment.Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 527-2222 Your exclusive providers for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com