Raymond “Ray” Villeneuve

Raymond Morse “Ray” Villeneuve, 81, Antwerp, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2017.
Calling hours were held on Thursday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur with Fr. Christopher Looby officiating and burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Antwerp.
Raymond was born in Faust, N.Y., part of Tupper Lake, on July 6, 1935. He is the fifth and youngest child of Napoleon “Paul” and Ida Carter Villeneuve.
Ray married Carol Elaine Dusharm on July 21, 1956 at St. James Church, Gouverneur, with Fr. James Lyng and Fr. Mehan officiating.
He was employed at Agway and St. Joe Lead Company before purchasing the family farm from Paul and Ida in 1967. He operated the dairy farm which was awarded the “Dairy of Distinction” award until retiring in 1998. The couple continued to reside on the farm, “Cedar Hill Farms”, while Ray continued to crop farm until his passing.
Ray enjoyed hunting, reading, traveling, carpentry, home improvements, mechanic work, and restoring and showing Oliver 60 Row Crop tractors.
He was a life member of the Gouverneur Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus.
Ray is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carol, his children Roxanna and Joseph Backer of Castile, N.Y., Ray Villeneuve of Holland Patent, Randy and Joan Villeneuve of Amherst, VA, ten grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
He is also survived by his sisters Dorothy Putman of Florida, Geraldine Coffin of Antwerp, several nieces and nephews, including his closest nephew, Jim Booking and his wife Lori Booking. Ray is predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Leon and Stanley, his sisters-in law Doris Villeneuve and Doris Trask Villeneuve.
Memorial donations in Ray’s memory may be made to Gouverneur Hospital, 77 W. Barney Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642, or Indian River Ambulance Service, 6 Sands Street, Philadelphia, NY 13673.