He was born on January 18, 1942 in Fort Frances to Ulysse and Emilia DeGagne, one of a dozen children, growing up on the family farm in Devlin. He worked hard all of his life, driving tow truck, delivering milk, building cabinets and fixing hydraulics. He was employed at the local papermill for over 30 years starting on the paper machines and retiring as a master journeyman pipefitter. Ray was united in marriage to Susan Nadon on October 13, 1961 and they were together almost 30 years before her passing in 1990. He enjoyed fishing, curling and golfing and was an avid Blue Jays fan. He was always ready to play a round of smear or a game of cribbage with his family and friends. Raymond was a natural entertainer, he loved to host family gatherings at the cabin at Bears Pass in the summers and at his home during the winters. In the later years, Ray cherished wintering in Arizona with his brothers and cousins. Family always knew his door was open to them.
Raymond leaves behind his sons Greg (Tonia) and Barry (Monica); daughter Barbe (Murray) Dennis; grandchildren Nathan (Leah) and Sara DeGagne, Nicolas and Reed Dennis, Lindsy and Joshua DeGagne; great grandchildren Sophie Calder and Sirus DeGagne; siblings Roger (Doris), Vinton (Arlene), Paul (Jan), Ed (Karen), Gerard (Betty), Marcel (Valdean), Louise (Roy) Cull, Emily (Bob) Bishop and Yvonne Smelt; special friend Marian Ogden; sister-in-law Janis DeGagne-Nelson as well as a large extended family of nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents Ulysse and Emilia; wife Susan on April 30, 1990; brother Leo DeGagne and sister Aurise and husband Armand Manaigre; in-laws Lionel and Alfreda Nadon; brother-in-law Richard Smelt and sister-in-law Barb and Jim Gustafson.
Funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.
Interment will take place in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances, ON.
The pallbearers will be Craig Gustafson, Kevin DeGagne, Dwayne DeGagne, Lanny Cross, Jamie DeGagne.
If friends so desire in memoriam donations may be made to Rainycrest Auxilary or St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.
Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.
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