WESTFIELD – 
Raymond Potter passed away at home after a brave battle with brain cancer on Saturday December 14, 2019. Ray was born in Holyoke to the late Raymond and Mildred (Houle) Potter. He is the older brother to Joyce (Potter) McCormick. Ray graduated from Cathedral High School in 1964 and Westfield State College in 1968. Ray was married to Kathy (Hamel) Potter in 1968 and had two children, Russell Potter and Lynn (Potter) Shimelman. Survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Ray and Kathy were always proud of the many years that they shared together. Ray is survived by his son, Russell and granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Karolyn Potter; by his daughter, Lynn and her husband, Jeff Shimelman and their children, Jared, Ryan and Abigail. He is also survived by his sister, Joyce and her husband, Jeff McCormick of Pennsylvania, his niece, Kerry and nephew, Chauncy. Ray is predeceased by his sister-in-law, Patricia and nephew, Mark Sturm. He is survived by his brother-in-law, Walter, niece, Cindy (Sturm) and Steven Menard, his grand nephews, Mark and William; his nephew Steven and his wife, Kathleen Sturm, grandnephew, Brent and grand-niece, Kristin.
As a young man, Ray became a Civics Teacher in the Chicopee School System. He always said that he never had a real job, because he so enjoyed his career. He enjoyed taking his students to Washington D.C. during spring break. Even in his final days he talked about the best thing he taught his students was about how to manage finances. As a grandfather, Ray enjoyed all of his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed their summer visits to New Hampshire and teaching his grandchildren about world travels with the help of his globe. Ray traveled extensively throughout the summers wit
Thank you to his dear friends, LeRoy and Emily LaFlesh, who kept alive Ray’s teaching spirit to the end. Thank you to Noble friends that have supported Ray from the beginning of Ray’s illness to his final days. Thank you to Kathy Dame and Debi Garcia for their love and palliative care during those final days. Thank you to the staff of O’Connell Care at Home. Thank you to Romaira who cared for Ray daily from the beginning of his home care to his final days. Ray and his wife lived in Westfield, Massachusetts for 50 years. After retirement they enjoyed traveling on cruise ships all over the world. Ray spent countless hours planning trips and always said the planning was as much fun as the actual cruise. This difficult journey could not have been made without the support of our family and friends. The family thanks the many health care professionals, who cared for Ray at the Sr. Caritas Oncology Center, Mercy Hospital, and O’Connell Care at Home during the course of his illness. Thank you to Dr. Kirtani who allowed Ray to believe that he would make one final trip to the Caribbean on the Carnival Vista this coming January. And finally, thank you to Pam Hoynoski, who believed in making the final moments of Ray’s life to be lived with the grace and dignity that he earned throughout his life time. Calling hours and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations in Ray’s memory to the Sr. Caritas Oncology Center, 271 Carew St., Springfield, MA. or an organization of your choice. www.firtionadams.com
