WESTFIELD – Rayburn H. Gornall, 88, of Westfield died Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Noble Hospital surrounded by his family after a period of failing health. He was born in Taunton, MA on December 3, 1924 to Henry and Eva (Magoon) Gornall and moved to Westfield in 1951.Rayburn was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and was a WWII and Korean War Naval Veteran serving in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Perkins. He worked for the former Fruehauf Trailer Corp in Westfield and retired in 1994 after thirty-three years as a machinist for Turcotte Manufacturing in Agawam. Rayburn loved and enjoyed skiing well into his eighties and was a member of the Springfield Ski Club and 80 + Ski Club. He was a member of American Legion Post 454 Westfield and the antique Buick club. He loved and appreciated time spent with family and friends. He enjoyed his career, lively conversations, traveling, riding steam trains, naval ship reunions, dancing, hunting, splitting wood, antique cars, big trees, birds, nature, science and playing cards.
Rayburn leaves his wife of sixty-two years, Helen (Angino) Gornall; two sons, Jeffrey W. Gornall and his wife Julie of Westfield, Scott R. Gornall and his wife Sarah of Spofford, NH; and a daughter, Gail E. Kelliher and her husband Michael of Longmeadow. He also leaves two brothers, Leroy Woodward and his wife Dottie of Mashpee and Harold Gornall of San Jose, CA; two sisters, Ellen Hatch of Naples FL and Evamae Dumoulin of Taunton and a sister-in-law, Sue Gornall of Meriden, CT. He also leaves four grandchildren Stuart Gornall of Macon, GA, Justin Gornall of Indian Orchard, Katlyn Kelliher of Longmeadow and Elisabeth Gornall of Spofford, NH and two great grandsons, Bryant and Logan Gornall. He was predeceased by a brother, William Gornall and an infant son, Mark Andrew Gornall.
The funeral will be Friday, March 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA followed by burial with military honors in Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield. A calling hour will precede the service from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made in his honor to the Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410.
