Obituary of Ray Eugene Ulmer

Ray Eugene Ulmer Jr. (Gene) of Dade City, FL, a longtime Pinellas-Pasco Circuit judge, died March 7, 2018. Son of Ray E. Ulmer, a former Pinellas County judge, and Bonnie Madge McQuagge, a teacher, he grew up in Pinellas County. He graduated from Clearwater High School, earned a bachelor's degree at Stetson University in Deland, and earned his juris doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in 1963, the same year he was admitted to the Florida Bar. He practiced law and worked part-time as an assistant state attorney until 1974, when he followed in his father's footsteps and was appointed a circuit judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit by then-Gov. Reubin Askew. He served in virtually all divisions in Pasco and Pinellas counties, and was chief judge from 1993 to 1995 before retiring in 2010, after which he worked as a senior judge. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Michele (Blais) Ulmer, a digital court reporter for the circuit, and his step-children from that marriage, Luanne Burns Thorpe and John Roger Burns; two other stepchildren, Michael Ballou and Lana Ballou Parker; a biological daughter, Melinda "Mindy" Hauser, and sister, Jerri Umer LaCivita (Ron). He was predeceased by his biological son, Ray E. "Trey" Ulmer III. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren. Gene was a member of Community United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Florida, and had a variety of interests. He was a licensed charter boat captain, a student of Japanese Karate, a licensed emergency medical technician, an adjunct faculty member at St. Leo College and Pasco-Hernando Community College, an avid hunter and fisherman, a fan of art and music, and he was an eminent story-teller and practical jokester. A celebration of life service will be held at Community United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Florida on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Building Fund, Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1318, San Antonio, FL 33576.