DANVERS - Gilbert Joseph Raymond of Danvers & Hudson, FL, beloved husband of the late Jean (Longfellow) (Flint) Raymond with whom he shared 46 years of marriage, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 surrounded by his loving family after living a fulfilling and happy life.
Born in Van Buren, ME, Gil was the son of the late Alphy and Rose (Rioux) Raymond. He was one of 15 children and grew up and worked on the family farm until moving to Salem, MA in 1950 to start his own life. He resided in Salem and Peabody where he started his family before settling in Danvers in 1965 to raise a still growing family with his wife Jean. Gil was employed as a machine painter for United Shoe Machinery Corp/Dynapert in Beverly and retired after 40 years of dedication to his job. After retirement, he and Jean built a home in Hudson, FL in a golf community doing what they loved to do, play golf, but still came home to Danvers for summers.
There were traditions of going to the family camp in Sandown, NH on Phillips Pond, summer vacations to Jackson, NH at the lodge, cruises and golf vacations with family and friends. Through the years he enjoyed attending the many school concerts, dance recitals and sports his children participated in and that carried over to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Gil was an easy-going kind of man and loved having card nights, playing cribbage with his sons-in-law, sitting out on his porch, and kicking back in his favorite chair watching the Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots.
Though he enjoyed the slow pace, Gil was involved in many hobbies and activities. He and Jean enjoyed dancing many styles from ballroom to square dancing which they seemingly floated so gracefully on any dance floor. He was on a bowling league for years and once made an appearance on the TV show Candlepins for Cash. He was also a long-time member of the Franco-American Club in Beverly. He threw a mean horseshoe and at 92 played a great game of cornhole in the backyard. His true passion was the sport of golf. He played on leagues with family and friends on so many courses including Far Corners, Beverly Golf and Tennis and The Links in Florida, the golf community he lived in.
Gil was a devoted husband, an amazing father and a fun-loving grandfather and great-grandfather as well as a great friend to so many both here and in Florida. He will be deeply missed by all but lovingly remembered.
He is survived by his children, Pam and Rusty Lake of Danvers; Ted and Tamera Raymond of Harrison, ME; Tom Raymond of Danvers; Janice and Larry Lamarre of Danvers; Julie and Rusty Amaral of Rockport; Lynda and Henry Bedard of Danvers and New Port Richey, FL; Steve and Marie Flint of Danvers; Dave and Jane Flint of Plymouth, MA; his 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; his special companion Nancy Postal of Florida and Michigan; his sister-in-law, Joan Raymond of Salem, NH; many nieces and nephews and his many friends both here and in Florida. He was predeceased by his wife Jean, his parents and his 14 siblings.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to services at O’Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations, 167 Maple St (Rte. 62) DANVERS on Thursday, June 9th, Visiting hours are from 4 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. with a funeral service following at 7 P.M. Burial will be private. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Gil’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 75 Sylvan St., Suite 102B, Danvers, MA 01923. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com .
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