Joseph Raymond Smith 1927 - 2012 Joseph Raymond Smith was born in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan in 1927, to Samuel Edward Smith, a blacksmith from New York, and Ruth Elizabeth Willey from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. He had two older sisters, Anne and Hazel. His mother separated from their father while Ray was still a baby and moved with her three children to Winnipeg, Man. in 1928. His mother married again and there were six more children; three brothers: Bob, Jim and Dickie; and three more sisters: Eleanor, Connie and Joan. Ray was sick as a child, having had rheumatic fever and a heart condition (which he outgrew). He spent some time in hospital. His mother was not able to give him the care he needed at home with the other children and so, at the age of nine years, the Children's Aid Society placed him in a foster home. Ray was baptized when he was 11 years old at the Church of Christ in Winnipeg and took a keen interest in learning and following the Bible. He never completed public school past Grade 6, but Ray was always a keen thinker and a hard worker. When he was 16, the Children's Aid Society found him a job in a print shop. He began by sweeping floors there, an indication of things that would come later. After a few years, Ray decided to quit his job and attend Radville Christian College - in the Bible department. He attended RCC the same years (1949-1951) as Jean Williams from Beamsville, Ontario, and this is where they met. They exchanged addresses while travelling home on the train one year and those tracks led to their wedding day on August 11, 1953. Ray returned to his job at the print shop in Winnipeg when they married. Their daughter Geri was born in 1955. Ray was laid off just before John was born in 1958, but soon found a job in another print shop. Ray always dreamed of becoming a gospel preacher so at the age of 40, he decided to attend Sunset School of Preaching in Lubbock, Texas in 1968. Ray and Jean sold their home and contents and left for Texas with all our earthly possessions packed in the car. That move was one of faith - they trusted that God was with them. The two years in Texas were a great spiritual experience for them. Ray graduated from Sunset in 1970 and the family moved to Dauphin, Man., where he worked with the Church of Christ there for the next three years. While living in Dauphin their son John started attending Western Christian College in Weyburn, Sask., and their daughter Geri married Willie Lobert from Grandview, Manitoba. Ray and Jean moved to Prince Albert, Sask. in 1974 where he preached for two years. It was here, at the age of 45, that Ray passed the Grade 12 equivalency exams with flying colours. After the first year in P.A., the church couldn't support them anymore so Ray found other jobs to support the family. While working in a real estate office, Ray saw a janitorial business for sale in Estevan and decided to buy it. They sold their home in Prince Albert and moved to Estevan at the end of 1975. Geri's family joined them in Estevan to begin operating Estevan Cleaning Services, a business Ray and Jean successfully owned for 20 years. Ray and Jean have always felt blessed to be a part of the Estevan Church of Christ. Ray served as an Elder and together he and Jean took an active part in this congregation. In 1993 Ray was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. With failing health, his participation in the church soon decreased. In 1995 they retired as Ray could no longer do the heavy work of their janitorial business. In August 2004, Ray entered the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, so he and Jean sold their home and she moved to an apartment in Yardley Place. It was a difficult adjustment for both of them, however "faith in God" was still the motto by which they lived. Ray and Jean now have eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Their prayer for them will always be that they desire to know God and serve Him all their lives. Ray passed away peacefully on December 14, 2012 in the loving presence of his wife and children. The whole family is assured in the knowledge that Ray Smith's walk of faith in this world has now resulted in an eternity with God purchased by His Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Funeral Service was held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 20, 2012 from the Church of Christ, Estevan with Mr. Tim Pippus officiating. Interment followed at the Estevan City Cemetery. Donations may be given to Estevan Rotary Club or Clearview Christian Camp, c/o Estevan Church of Christ in memory of Raymond (Ray) Smith. Pallbearers were Nicholas Armstrong, Calvin Elford, Bob Goud, Larry Johnson, James Lobert, Kevin Lobert, Tyson Lobert, Allan Peterson and Will Smith. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.
