Obituary of Raymond Dimitur Keith

WANAKENA – Raymond Dimitur Keith, age 68, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at home under the care of his loving family and Hospice. There will be a Celebration of Life Service held on Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Western Adirondack Presbyterian Church in Wanakena with Pastor Pieter Visscher officiating. Burial in the Wanakena Cemetery will be at a later date. Arrangements are with French Family Funeral Home, Star Lake. Ray was born on November 8, 1947 in Staten Island, NY to the late Herbert Fred and Maria S. Keith. He graduated from the Clifton-Fine Central School, is an alumnus of the Wanakena Ranger School, and received his Associate degree in criminal justice from Monroe Community College where he was on the Dean's List. Mr. Keith served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He was inducted on June 12, 1967 and was honorably discharged on June 11, 1969. Ray saw a lot of enemy action in Vietnam and received 3 Purple Heart Awards, one with an Oak Leaf Cluster; was awarded 3 Bronze Stars, one with an Oak Leaf Cluster, for heroic efforts. A marriage to Rita Derouchie ended in divorce. He married Judy Hastings on June 28, 2008 in their home in Wanakena they built together officiated by Rev. Theodore Tate. Ray worked as a police officer in Syracuse for many years, first on patrol, then undercover. He also worked as a logger and owned R.D. Construction Company for many years. Ray loved to trap, having been awarded for the best prepped mink; he like to hunt, fish, and tinker on motors. He was an excellent woodworker and heavy equipment operator. It has been said of Ray that he could frost a cake with a bulldozer. Ray was also an animal lover who always had cats and dogs. His survivors include his wife, Judy L. Hastings; his son, Jason and Diana Keith; step children, Sue and Jeff Rabideau, Donald A. Wilson and fiancée, Tami Payne, Michael A. and Elizabeth Wilson, Dawn E. Stitzer; and a brother-in-law, John McNabb. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Genevieve Keith; 6 step grandchildren, Kylie, Payton, Grace, Sage, Christopher, Samantha; 2 step great-great grandchildren, Elliot and Emma; and his nieces, nephews and cousins. Ray is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Olymbia McNabb. Donations in memory of Ray may be made to the Wanakena Church Restoration Fund, PO Box 186, Star Lake NY 13690. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.