Raymond was born on October 12, 1929 to Frederick and Lillian Pottie (nee Reynold) and spent the early years of the Great Depression in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia. He lost his mother in early childhood and he and his 3 brothers were cared for by grandparents and neighbors at times when their father was away at sea. Life was a challenge during this time, often fraught with hardship and hunger, but Raymond developed a sunny personality and sense of humor that remained with him throughout his life. He was known to rarely complain about anything, including the isolation in long term care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Raymond lived most of his life in Westmount, where he raised a family with his late wife Aggie (Sullivan). He was employed at the Sydney Steel Plant and, when he wasn’t working, Raymond loved fishing at his favorite spot in Coxheath, which he was forced to abandon for greener pastures when it was discovered by other anglers. After retiring from the Steel Plant Raymond became proficient at tying flies which he gifted to just about anyone who showed an interest. He was also an avid reader on a wide variety of topics but was especially well read on World Wars I and II. He sorely missed reading when his eyesight failed and made do with audio books that were never quite the same. His love of reading may have contributed to his ability to do crossword puzzles in pen, as he rarely had to change a letter. Raymond was a bit of a renaissance man who loved classical music, especially chamber music and in his earlier years enjoyed playing chess over the phone with his brother-in-law, Jim Graham, and friend, David White. Despite all that, Dad was also sometimes like an absent-minded professor, once forgetting his beloved dog had gone on a car-ride with him and having to go back to Sydney River to pick him up, or taking an extraordinarily long time to remember his son-in-law’s name. After the death of his first wife Aggie, he had many happy years with his wife, Tena MacPhee-Pottie.
Raymond was predeceased by his parents, Frederick (Papa Fred) and Lillian as well as his stepmother Dorothy (Sullivan) Pottie (Aunt Dot), his siblings Amedie, Henry, Arthur along with 2 step siblings Suzanna and Margaret. He was also predeceased by his first wife Agatha (Sullivan) Pottie in 1989.
Raymond is survived by his children, Lillian (Douglas), Dorothy, Raylene (Alvin) and Tracy Shebib whom he loved like a daughter. Also surviving are grandchildren Kimberly Strange (Rob), Craig Wylde (Cheryl), Douglas Wylde (Kelsey), Bradley Pottie, Kaitlin, Aislin and Devin MacDonald as well as stepchildren Anthony, Florence, Augusta, Sara, Leo, Rosaline, Maragaret, Stephanie and John as well as and many nieces and nephews who cherished him.
Cremation has taken place and there will be a wake at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel on Thursday, May 12th from 7-9 pm with a Funeral Mass the next morning at 11:00am at Holy Rosary Church, Westmount with Fr. Doug Murphy officiating. Internment in the parish cemetery. Those wishing to may attend via livestream by visiting TW Curry’s facebook page.
As Raymond was always known to say, Ciao baby….
