RAY SMITH

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RAY SMITH June 29, 1943 - July 9, 2015 On July 9, 2015, surrounded by his family, Ray passed away after a short battle with cancer. With his passing the world lost a great man. He wasn't great in the typical sense that he made a world changing discovery or was famous, he was great because of who he was and what he stood for. His greatness was his soul, a soul that was truly caring for anyone who crossed his path, a soul that loved and lived for his family. A soul that was honest, true, caring, kind, strong and had a wonderful kind of dark humour, a soul that was loyal, generous of heart, forthright, a gentleman, a soul that was direct, respectful, devoted and had integrity. He has left behind his best friend and wife of 49 years, Jeanne; his daughter Donna and her husband Rob; his son Len and his wife Cheryl; and his "adopted" daughter Tracey; his grandchildren: Donovan and Sierra, Chana, Justin, Karlei, Melissa and Amanda; his beloved pets, Emma and Sam. He will be sadly missed by his brothers, Ed (Kim) and Al (Sandy); his sisters, Carol and Pam (Henry) and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Loudon, the nurses and staff at CancerCare Manitoba and the Palliative Care Services for all of their assistance during his illness. To honour Ray's wishes, there will be no funeral service and the family will hold a celebration of his life in Assiniboine Park on August 22, 2015 at the Nature Playground BBQ shelter from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a pet shelter of your choice. In the words of Henry Scott Holland: "Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well." The Coutu Family in care of arrangements: E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald Street 204-253-5086 ejcoutu.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 18, 2015