Gary H Raymond

Gary H. Raymond, 88, died of Alzheimer’s disease on June 6, 2023 at his
home in St. James. He was born May 30, 1935 in Madison, Nebraska, the son of Spencer
Henry and Hazel Rebecca Pearl (Timperly).
Gary grew up on a farm and attended a one-room school during the Great
Depression and World War II before attending Battle Creek High School. He received a B.S.
in geography from Nebraska Wesleyan University. He served in the Army National Guard
and made a career as a cartographer, working for the Nebraska Highway Department
before embarking on a long career with the U.S. Geological Survey. He married the love of
his life Judith Ann Nelson in 1964, and they moved to twenty-one different locations with
Gary working in the field as a surveyor before settling in St. James with their daughter
Emilie in 1975. Gary and Judi celebrated 58 years of marriage in December.
A member of the Kiwanis Club, Gary oversaw the youth basketball program for
many years. He also enjoyed travel, reading, playing cards, hiking and camping, including a
four-year volunteer stint as a campground host for the U.S. Forest Service at North Park in
Colorado. He loved a good quip and story, and liked to say he was “in the Army with Elvis.”
He was a life-long Nebraska Cornhuskers football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.
Surviving in addition to his wife Judi, are his daughter Emilie and her husband Craig
Dober; his granddaughter Rebecca; sister Jeanne Prauner; brother Stanley Raymond and
his wife Sherry; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at a future date.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the James Memorial Public Library Book
Fund, 300 W. Scioto, St. James, MO 65559.