David Lawrence Raymond

David Lawrence Raymond was born July 16, 1948 in Mt. Vernon, Washington son of William M. & Ruth G. Raymond. He attended school at Hillcrest Elementary and Baldwin Park Christian Schools, and Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, California. When the family moved to West Covina, California he transferred to Covina Unified High School. During his senior year of high school, he enlisted in the United States Army receiving his diploma by mail shortly before he was deployed to Vietnam. He completed basic training at Fort Ord, California where he received his expert marksman citation. He served his country in Vietnam in the Mekong Delta area as gunner on a helicopter. Returning to the U.S. he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky for several months and then was sent as a group of Vietnam veterans to train the unit of Pennsylvania National Guard at Hershey, Pennsylvania. Receiving his honorable discharge, he applied for aircraft technical training at Northrop/Grumman Aviation in Hawthorne, California where he earned his certification for helicopter and small aircraft maintenance and repair. He was impressed by the helicopters he flew in for rescue detail and wanted to learn more. After graduating he was employed by a private airport in San Dimas, California doing annual checks on privately-owned small aircraft.

In 1975 he moved to Cave Junction, Oregon and was involved in the family construction of many new homes built in the Illinois Valley. He volunteered with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Dept. and was hired as a Deputy in 1983. After 20 years of service he retired in 2003.

Dave fulfilled many talents including upholstery and designing, building and flying kites. He loved to entertain everyone with his drums. An avid surfer, he also enjoyed riding motorcycles and building kit cars.

Dave was diagnosed with ALS about two years ago and it progressed rapidly resulting in his death January 3, 2017 in Grants Pass. He will be cremated and his remains will be buried at Eagle Point National Cemetery some in April 2017.

He was preceded in death by his father, William M. Raymond in 2004.

He leaves behind his wife and best friend, Jamie Raymond of Grants Pass; daughter, Lisa Sherier and her husband Pat and grandsons, Andrew and Austin Sherier all of Cave Junction; mother, Ruth Raymond of Cave Junction; sisters, Debbie Daly of Walla Walla, Washington and Diane Austin of Fontana, California; and many family members and close personal friends.

Gone, but always in our hearts!

A graveside committal service with military honors will be at 2:00 p.m., April 21, 2017 at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you may go to http://webor.alsa.org/goto/DavidRaymond to help fight ALS.