Raymond “Ray” Dries
Obituary
DRIES, Raymond “Ray” Wilfrid…
Passed with dignity, grace and signature humor surrounded by his family at their longtime home on the anniversary of his birth, Friday, December 20th, 2024 reaching his 81st year and setting a family milestone.
Father to Becki (Alan Pullman), Bart (Mindy Muylaert) and Sandy (Richard Bertin), loving Grampaman to Everlea, Kellan (Becki, Alan), Bennett and Bauer (Bart, Mindy), proud and adoring partner to Lorraine Haskell.
Ray wrote many colourful chapters in life, born on the kitchen table in Ruscom, Ontario working the family farm with his six beloved sisters and brothers, establishing multiple businesses, raising with his family a stable of champion Egyptian Arabian horses, navigating the Great Lakes, the Great Loope and Gulf Stream Crossing in his PDQ twin diesel powercat, exploring Europe and the Hawaiian Islands with Lorraine.
When he wasn’t inventing or Macgyvering solutions to help his friends in Squamish and the Cove, solving word puzzles or conjuring up a new business plan, Ray could be found “mowing da lawn” at the family hobby farm.
Always ready with a dad-joke or an (in)appropriate gem from his collection of colloquial idioms, Ray delighted in imparting his unique brand of sage wisdom to those around him. “Let’s just save time and assume that I’m right”. “We’re here for a good time, not a long time”. “You never know from where you sit…”.
Ray’s final days were comforted with wonderful medical community care and surrounded by his family’s tears of sadness and joy, immense love and legacy.
In memory of Ray, those wishing to make donations can do so towards SickKids Toronto. Arrangements entrusted with Cremation London & Middlesex, 519-858-2467. Online condolences shared at www.cremationlondon.com
He was such a pleasure to be with . And such a proud family man
Thinking of all of you. Sending our prayers.
So sorry to hear about your Dad, Sandy. My condolences to you, Richard and your family.
Thinking of you all. Sending Prayers.
Ray had a great sense of humor he loved life and his family. Condolence to his family
Sending you, Sandy, Bart and Becki along with your families our heartfelt sympathy. We loved your dad and grew up listening to him sharing many of his stories and jokes with my dad. They were friends , neighbors and business partners. We will always remember your dad with love and fondness. Judy and Ron Sherritt
The Verslycken family is so very sorry for the loss of your father and Grandpaman. We have been so blessed to have had these retirement years to share our experiences of family becoming good friends. Laura is so very pleased to have shared her home in Switzerland with Ray and Lorraine to share Squamish.
We always enjoyed our time with Ray. His humour and wit cannot be duplicated.
Our condolences to his family and to Lorraine.
We are so sorry about the loss of such a great man. Our sincere condolences to Bart, Mindy, Becki, Al and the rest of your family.
The sorrow that we experience on the sudden loss of this unique and generous man from our lives is beyond expression. The depth and breadth of his contributions to our lives is immeasurable, and leaves us with a warm and gentle glow in our hearts that will never go away. His devotion to his family, and his principles was unshakeable. He was,, and will remain,,, our beacon..