Raymond J. Whittier, age 91 of Beverly, passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Ray was born and raised in Lynn and after retirement, lived with his late wife Shirley with their daughter Mary Jean Raimo and her husband Mike in Beverly. He was a graduate of Lynn English High School in 1950 and attended Wagner’s Sign and Graphic Art School in Boston. He served as a Battalion Draftsman in the Army and as an observer at the Atomic Bomb Testing at Desert Rock, Nevada.
After his service, Ray worked as a graphic artist for the Lewis of Lynn Sign Company for over 10 years before opening his own business, Ray J. Whittier for Lettering. He ran his sign and graphic art shop in Lynn for 46 years. Ray was a published poet, a member of the Lynn Chapter of the Mass Poetry Society and the Tin Box Poets of Swampscott. His poetic work can be found in local libraries and schools. He was known for his audience friendly rhyming verses.
Ray is survived by his sons Raymond and his wife Susan of Stratham, NH, Daniel and his wife Mary Ellen of Stratham, NH, and Mark and his wife Maria of Beverly; his daughters Denise Benevento and her husband Vincent of Stratham, NH, Mary Jean Raimo and her husband Michael of Beverly, Paula Funk and her husband Norman of Chaplin, CT, and Christine Moganelli and her husband Michael of Lynn; his brother John and his wife Karen of Fredericksburg, VA, his sister Judith McBriarty and her late husband John of Milford, NH; his cousins John Caldwell and his wife Clara of Ocean Ridge, FL and Patricia Chadbourne of Lynn; his friend Teddy; and his 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Ray is predeceased by his wife Shirley and his daughter Sheryle Whittier.
Ray’s visitation will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street, Lynn. His Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 AM at St. Pius V Church, 215 Maple Street, Lynn. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Lynn. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ray’s memory to The David James Hospice Unit, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730.
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