When someone who has spent decades building a community passes away, the silence they leave behind is heavy. That’s exactly how many felt when they heard about the ray g smith obituary hamburg ny. He wasn't just another resident of Western New York; he was one of those people who basically acted as a pillar for the things that make a small town feel like home. Ray G. Smith passed away on October 31, 2015, leaving a legacy that still resonates in the quiet corners of Hamburg today.
It’s easy to get lost in the dry facts of a death notice, but Ray’s life had a lot of texture to it. He was a man of deep faith and even deeper roots.
A Life Built on Faith and Family
Ray was married to his wife, Mabel, for an incredible 67 years before she passed in 2014. Think about that for a second. Sixty-seven years. They were a team. Most of us struggle to keep a car running for ten years, let alone a marriage for nearly seven decades. By the time Ray joined her, he had become the patriarch of a massive, sprawling family that included children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Specifically, he was the devoted father of Ronald, Robin, and Susan. Honestly, if you talk to anyone who knew the family back then, they’ll tell you that Ray’s house was the kind of place where the door was always open. He wasn't just "Dad" or "Grandpa"—he was a fixture.
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His spiritual life was just as sturdy. Ray was a Founder and Deacon of the Christian Fellowship Baptist Church. He didn't just show up on Sundays to occupy a pew; he helped build the foundation of that community, both literally and figuratively. In a town like Hamburg, those small community churches are the glue that holds neighborhoods together during tough times.
The Details You Might Be Looking For
If you’re searching for the specifics of the ray g smith obituary hamburg ny for genealogical reasons or just to pay respects, here is the breakdown of what happened during those final arrangements.
The services were handled by Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, located at 4199 Lake Shore Road. It’s that familiar spot right at the corner of Camp Road and Route 5. People gathered there on a Tuesday evening in early November 2015 to swap stories and probably shed a few tears. The funeral itself followed on Wednesday, November 4, at 11 AM.
He was eventually laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery on Abbott Road. If you’ve ever driven past that cemetery, you know it’s a peaceful place, very much in keeping with the way Ray lived his life.
Family Ties and Survivors
Ray’s legacy is perhaps best seen in the names of those he left behind. The family tree he and Mabel planted is huge:
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- Children: Ronald (Donna Plucinski) Smith, Robin (Richard) Dudek, and Susan Ray.
- Grandchildren: A long list including Carrie, Julie, Ronnie, Amanda, Kristen, Casey, Amy, Tom, and Chelsey.
- Great-Grandchildren: By the time of his passing, he already had greats like Henrik and Heidi.
One detail that often stands out in his obituary is the request for memorials. Instead of a sea of flowers that would eventually wither, the family asked for donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of his granddaughter, Carrie Smith. It says a lot about a man when his final "ask" of the world is to help someone else in his family.
Why Ray's Story Still Matters in Hamburg
Hamburg is the kind of place that remembers its own. When a "Founder" passes, it marks the end of an era. Ray G. Smith represented a generation that believed in staying put, building something meant to last, and showing up for your neighbors.
Whether it was through his work at the church or just being a steady hand for his kids, he was part of the "Greatest Generation" ethos that is slowly fading from our daily lives. You’ve probably noticed that things feel a bit more transient these days, but Ray was the opposite of transient. He was permanent.
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How to Honor His Memory Today
If you find yourself looking up this obituary because you knew Ray or the Smith family, there are still ways to honor that legacy of community service.
- Support Local MS Chapters: The family's original wish for donations to the MS Society remains a vital cause.
- Visit Hillcrest Cemetery: If you're in the Hamburg area, taking a moment of silence at Hillcrest is a respectful way to acknowledge the builders of the town.
- Community Involvement: Ray was a deacon and a founder. Joining a local board or volunteering at a community center in Hamburg or West Seneca carries on that spirit of "doing" rather than just "being."
Finding information on the ray g smith obituary hamburg ny reminds us that every person in our community has a story that deserves to be told with more than just dates and locations. Ray lived a full, 88-year-long life, and the impact of those years is still felt by the people who carry his name and the church members who still meet in the space he helped create.
If you are researching family history or trying to reconnect with the Smith or Dudek families, looking through the archives of the Buffalo News from November 2015 will provide the original, full-text announcements that appeared at the time of his passing.