Robert James Raymond

Robert James (Jim) Raymond, age 80, passed away June 2nd, 2025, under hospice care at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan.

Jim was born Feb 25, 1945, in West Branch, Michigan, to the late Joseph and Marie (Norris) Raymond.

He married Vickie Sheppard in West Branch.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ann (late Barney) Smith and Bonnie Johnson, and infant son Jeffrey James.

He is survived by brothers John (Diane) and Michael; sisters Bette (late Jack) Thompson and Connie (Don) Wolfgang; children Arthur (Michelle) Raymond, Christina (Brian) Hampton, and Angelica (Rafael) Reyes; grandchildren Matthew, Jessica, Ryan, Katie and Olivia Raymond; Jasmine and AJ Vallejo; and Rafael, Maxwell and Ava Reyes; great-grandchildren Alexis, Edgar, Anthony and David.

Post high school Jim trained and worked as a machinist, eventually landing at GM's Fisher Body factory #1 in Flint as a diemaker's apprentice. He spent his career as a diemaker and then a toolmaker. For a time he was member of Flint's Central General Baptist Church, where he drove the church bus to bring kids to hear the gospel along with his own children.

Jim was often seeking new adventures: SCUBA diving, sky diving, skiing, sailing, boating, kayaking. He liked pushing his limits, going all-in on these endeavors, with some broken bones along the way. In SCUBA he trained for deep cold-water technical diving; and in his ocean-rated kayak he loved performing empty-handed Eskimo rolls to the amazement of onlookers.

Jim enjoyed working on many home remodeling projects through the years. Understanding the value of the life-giving gift of his rare blood type, he was a life-long, multi-gallon blood donor. He also volunteered as a hospice care-giver in the Flint and West Branch areas.

After retiring from GM, Jim moved to Aloha, Michigan where he purchased a small former snack shop at the entrance to Aloha State Park and built it up into his dream home, dubbed "The Aloha Lodge," with rooms for many guests. In his later years Jim's adventures slowed a bit, as he travelled to visit relatives via RV and train as his health allowed.

Jim will be interred with his parents and grandparents in the West Branch Brookside Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home, Thursday, June 19th, 109 E. Houghton Ave., West Branch, Mich. 48661. Family and friends can gather starting at 10am, with memorial service at noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund at www.vcf.gov.