Clifford F. Raymond, 85, died peacefully in his home Jan 12, 1999.
He was born Dec 16, 1913, in Shelby to Morris and Flossie (Ward) Raymond. On Jul 15, 1936, he married Irene V. Levett, who was to be his wife of 50 years.
Mr. Raymond worked as a welder in the shipyards in Ohio, and later as a welder on aircraft in war-related efforts. He spent most of his life self-employed as a sheet metal fabricator/installer in the Grand Traverse area. Many old barns of days gone by still stand straight under his standing seam roofing. He never missed a chance to point them out with a measure of reminiscence mixed with pride. His roofing business then gave way to a furnace installation business that he maintained for 18 years in Traverse City. He then spent a six year period in Grand Rapids employed as a foreman in the same profession. In 1973 he moved to the Kalkaska area and reopened Raymond Heating Co and in 1979 passed the business to his son, with whom he continued working until the age of 82.
Mr. Raymond enjoyed his family, his work, hunting and fishing. He developed a love for golf and was more than an interested birdwatcher. He spent a good deal of frustrating time trying to devise a way to keep the jays and squirrels from the chickadees and mourning doves, without much success.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Irene in 1986, brother Lester Raymond, and sister Minnie Timmons.
He is survived by sisters Cecil Bricker, Marie Bailey, and Margie Shoemaker; children Darlene Steed, Dave Raymond, Kathi Erlewein and Jeff Raymond; nine grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.
This is a man who will be sorely missed by all who loved him. His patience, honesty, and sense of fair play are in inspiration to them all and a reminder of a simpler, more wholesome era, whose generation is slowly fading.
Funeral services were held Jan 15 at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska; Father Patrick J Barrett officiated. Burial will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
The family of Mr. Raymond would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Munson Healthcare and North Country Hospice, whose combined help was invaluable throughout his long illness. Please support your local Hospice organization.
We'll see you soon, Dad!
