Obituary of Raymond Emmons

Raymond Ira Emmons of Gravelbourg and formerly of Melaval, passed away at the Foyer D’Youville Home in Gravelbourg April 9, 2024 at the age of 98. He was predeceased 2021 by his loving wife Margaret Evelyn (nee Thompson); parents Edward and Zorah; brothers Wilfred, Wesley (Dorothy), Alvin (Annetta); sisters Sylvia Hauser (Frank), Goldie Rigetti and Wilma Hahn. He leaves to mourn one sister Alma Salter of Swift Current, and one brother-in-law Alfred Rigetti of Moose Jaw; his children: Linda (Lewis) Nugent of Saskatoon, Sk; Gerald Emmons of Saskatoon, Sk; Judith Emmons (Harvey Mohr) of Earl Grey, Sk; Sherry Joorisity (Dale) of Regina, Sk; Timothy Emmons of Melaval, Sk; Donna Burr of Lafleche, Sk. Also mourning his passing are 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

 

Raymond was born August 14, 1925 on the homestead south of Lafleche 4-07-05-3 where he received his education at Harwood School and the Lafleche High School. He married Margaret Thompson the daughter of Edward and Ida Thompson September 02, 1950 in Moose Jaw, Sk. Mechanically minded he worked for various businesses, obtaining his Journeyman Mechanic’s papers. In 1967 he purchased Joe Walter’s garage in Melaval and operated Ray’s Service, with a brief stint as a mechanic in Maple Ridge, B.C. He also worked for Wayne Bus in Lafleche repairing school buses, and afterward for his brother Alvin who was farming large tracts of land. In his eighties he started a sewer service, which he operated for a number of years, winterizing water lines at the golf course and private residences along with the cleaning of septic tanks.

 

A jack of all trades, Raymond loved fixing anything that was broken or needed repair, from remodelling their home in Melaval to restoring a 1929 John Deere tractor and a 1952 Willie’s Jeep which he enjoyed taking to parades. More than anything Dad and Mom loved their family, making Christmas not only a generous affair, but one to be remembered. The enormous garden that Margaret and he grew was shared by family and neighbours alike, but was often set aside for summer camping trips, which Ray always made eventful.

 

Here's to you Dad, you will always remain in our hearts as kind and loving, even when you could no longer remember our names.