Obituary of Raymond E. Laney

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at age 92

Predeceased by his loving wife Shirley and brothers, Clifford, and Norman Laney. Survived by children; Karen Smith, Rae Ellen (Dave) Meeker, James (Lori) Laney, Thomas (Cheryl) Laney and Laura (Scott) Lindsey. Grandchildren; Jillian and Kyle Smith, Laney Meeker, Jessica (Matt) Coakley, Matt (Caroline) Laney, Kate McGee, Sarah Laney, Taylor, Eric and Kevin Lindsey. Great- grandchildren: Olivia and Emma Coakley and Amelia and Isabel Laney.

A loving father and husband, Ray enjoyed holidays and reunions with family. Ray grew up in Hamlin, NY where he loved to ride his horse across the country side. Ray later moved to Churchville, NY where he helped on his father’s farm. Ray served 3 years in the Navy where he was a Sonar Technician on the USS The Sullivans (now a museum ship in Buffalo) during the Korean War. After the Navy, Ray married the love of his life, Shirley and became a local builder. He built many homes in this area while he and Shirley raised their family in a remodeled historical school house on Shirley's mother's farm in Hamlin. After traveling the country in a motor home for a year, Ray and Shirley moved from Hamlin to the Carolinas in 1982 where Ray designed and built many custom homes in the Smokey Mountain region and became the president of the Home Builders Association in Hendersonville, NC. Ray was respected and admired among his fellow builders and associates. Besides building, Ray loved gold dredging, boating, fishing, gun shooting, and traveling. Ray and Shirley first retired to Pawleys Island in S. Carolina where they boated with the marina crowd, had many family visitors, and organized beach family reunions. Ray was very artistic and in retirement had time to paint portraits of each of his family members and some US presidents. Ray and Shirley then moved back to Brockport in 2015 to be closer to family. Ray will live forever in our hearts…

An open service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery on May 18 at 1:00 PM.

Donations may be made to Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center. Please specify Hildebrandt in the "Gift Designation" drop down section.