Raymond Chastain, 74, of Dahlonega, died July 19, 2011.

Born April 8, 1937, in Pickens County to the late Ben and Eula Chastain, he had lived in Lumpkin County more than 50 years.

Mr. Chastain was formerly employed by Vantress Farms and Tyson, after which he began a career in automobile sales with Cody Chevrolet and retired in 2008 from Hardy Chevrolet. After retirement he worked with Chastain Janitorial Supply.

An avid racing fan, Raymond was a team member with Chastain Racing and was a devoted Dale Earnhardt fan. He was a member of Mill Creek Baptist Church and Blue Mountain Lodge No. 38 F&AM.

His sisters, Ann Hooper, Ola Belle Wiley, Wynell Lingerfelt; and a brother, Willard Crane, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Chastain of Dahlonega; children, Debbie Peck of Dawsonville, Rita and Leon Foster, Scott and Laura Lathem, all of Dahlonega, Donna and Donna and Adren Crawford of Lula, Rhonda and Doug Soule of Cumming, Ricky and Shari Wright of Cleveland; sisters and brothers-in-law, Margie and Ernest Davenport of Union Point, Estelle and Chuck Reece of Gillsville; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wade and Marvene Crane of Dawsonville, Ralph and Shirley Chastain, Alton and Linda Chastain, all of Dahlonega; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. July 22 at Mill Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Rodney Pilcher, Lyman Caldwell and Larry Lingerfelt officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements.