Obituary of Robert Raymond

December 3, 1932 - February 17, 2024

Robert "Smokie" Raymond

Robert R. "Smokie" Raymond, age 91, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Corewell Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, following a lingering illness. Bob had been living down in the Monroe/Dearborn area for nearly two years in assisted-type living. His wish was to return to his beloved Caro, but that was not to be.

Bob was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 3, 1932, to Edgar and Gertrude "Shorty" (Underwood) Raymond. Being their only child, he was the center of their world and they were the center of his until their passing in 1986 and 1989. Bob grew up between the Detroit/Dearborn area as well as his mother's family farm, south Caro at Underwood and Rossman Roads. He loved his time spent at the farm, playing with his "tadpole" cousins, Jimmie and Tommie Swires. They raised holy heck out in orchards and sand hills and loved every minute of it.

After graduating high school, Bob joined the United States Air Force and served in England in the

1950's. Upon his discharge, he went to work for Grand Trunk Railroad. He loved railroads all of his life,

particularly since his father had also worked for the railroad. Upon his retirement from the railroad in 1989. 

Bob moved north and made his permanent home close to the family farm in Caro. He made several yearly trips to California for the winter.  He enjoyed playing golf, badminton, and horseshoes with Jim and Tom until Tom's all too early death in 1994. He kept busy trying to cheer Jim up after the overwhelming grief at the loss of his little brother until Jim's passing in 2001. 

Through it all, there were the restaurants that he visited DAILY!  These restaurants became like a second home for Bob. He had haunts in Garden City, particularly The Clock restaurant on Ford Road, and there were many, many places he frequented in Caro. God bless all of the wonderful people who waited on him! Through these trips, Bob aka Smokie, met and made many friends. If he was asked to "please not return" due to some poor behavior (not our Cousin Bob!), he made more friends or those friends followed him to that restaurant. God broke the mold when he made "Smokie" Bob. 

Left to remember Bob are his adopted daughter and primary caretaker for the last few years, Barb and her husband Tom Saville of Flat Rock; first cousin once removed, Kathy (Swires) Wright and her children of Caro; first cousin once removed, Kristine (Swires) Sangster and her husband Dan of Decker, along with their children and grandchildren; Kathy & Kris's mom, Margaret (Swires-Morey) Turner and her husband Larry of Cass City; first cousin once removed Patti (Swires) Allard) and her children of Westland; first cousin Ann Swires and her children of El Cajon, CA; his cousin Tom's widow, Norma Swires of Westland.  On the Raymond side, are his cousins Karen and Dennis Pelty of Davison; Debby and Wray Hiser of Fort Myers, Florida; Diane Burt also of Fort Myers, FL; and Kathy Nowak of Mineral, Virginia, and of course, his many, many friends.  

Bob has been laid to rest next to his beloved mother, our Aunt Shorty, near his other Underwood relatives at East Dayton Cemetery. His tombstone inscription says, "I hate Michigan winters!" Indeed if you ever tried to call Bob at the time, you would be treated to an original limerick of his regarding the weather and how close we were or were not the winter!

A memorial celebration will happen sometime in the spring or early summer. Prepared lovingly with many giggles along with some tears by Kathy and Kristine. Enjoy your eternal SUMMER Cousin Bob; we love you, you crazy, wonderful guy.