Raymond E. Beers, Sr., 87, of Roseland Ave. , Seneca, went to be with the Lord at 8:32 p.m. Saturday, December 14, 2013 at his residence.
Raymond was born in Franklin on September 22, 1926. He was the son of Arthur and Elsie Shields Beers.
He was a graduate of Franklin High School.
Ray was a talented baseball player and prior to the onset of World War II, he may have been on his way to becoming a ‘major leaguer.’ He played baseball for a year while in Japan, and then played ball locally in the Hayrake league for many years and enjoyed attending the annual league banquet. He was an avid Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees fan. He enjoyed watching professional football and was a Cleveland Browns fan. He enjoyed dancing and big band music.
Mr. Beers was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the infantry in the Pacific Theatre. Raymond was among the first troops to occupy Japan.
He was employed by Joy Manufacturing in Franklin for over 45 years and retired from their shipping department. Ray was an officer in the International Associations of Machinists Local 1842, and traveled extensively on behalf of the union.
Ray was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City. He was also a volunteer for many years at the hospital, both in Franklin and in Seneca.
Mr. Beers was married for over forty years to his first wife, Rita Ione Olsen Beers, who preceded him in death on May 11, 1989.
On September 19, 1998 he married the former Mabel Rector, and she survives.
He is also survived by two children, Raymond E. Beers, Jr. and wife Linda and Dianna Lynn Judson, all of Franklin; and a stepson, Robert C. Hallman and wife Louise of Westerville, Ohio; nine grandchildren, Michael J. “Mickey” Beers, Jason C. Beers and wife Julie, Erica R. Alcorn and husband Eddy, Yvonne Cutchall, Shannon M. Cutchall, Shelly Bell and companion Charles Lamberton, Adrian Kuzma, Richard Judson and companion Garbriel Forsell, and Jennifer Judson and fiancé Paul White; three step-grandchildren, Renee, Jordan and Michael Hallman; sixteen great-grandchildren, including a very close great-granddaughter, Allison Hedglin and husband Rustie; as well as a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Andrea Bell and John Judson; a son-in-law, Joseph “Ted” Judson; two sisters, Evelyn Beers and Doris Seyler; and a brother, Arthur Beers, Jr.; and a brother-in-law, Robert Seyler. Raymond was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Friends will be received Tuesday (Dec. 17th) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc., 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township. A funeral service will be held Wednesday (Dec. 18th) at 11 a.m. in Good Hope Lutheran Church, 800 Moran Street, Oil City, with the Rev. Philip H. Scherr, church pastor, officiating. A committal service will be held at the church following the funeral service, where full military funeral honors will be accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.
Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Cranberry.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Hope Lutheran Church, 800 Moran St. Oil City PA 16301; V.N.A. Hospice, 491 Allegheny Blvd., Franklin PA 16323; or the Venango County Humane Society, PO Box 1045, Oil City, PA 16301.
Condolences may be sent to the family online by visiting www.hilebest.com.