Obituary of Raymond Joseph Shoemaker

Raymond Joseph Shoemaker, 81, of Madison passed away on December 16, 2015. Born and raised in Lambertville, Ray has resided in Madison for the past 50 years. Ray served his country in the U.S. Army from 1956-1958. Ray earned his B.S. degree in Business from West Liberty University in West Virginia. He worked in the Textile industry in New York City for many years. During his retirement, he worked as a Ranger at Pinch Brook Golf Course in Florham Park. He was also a member of St. Vincent’s Church in Madison. In his spare time, Ray enjoyed playing golf, reading, listening to Frank Sinatra, spending time at Barnegat Light and being with his family and friends. He also loved his dogs and grand-dogs. Ray is survived by his wife of 54 years, Maureen (Kelley), of Madison; and his children, Raymond Shoemaker, Jr., and his wife, Toni, of Flemington, Peter Shoemaker, and his wife, Donna, of Nutley, and Kate Smith, and her husband, Jeff, of Madison. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Bowe, and her husband Harry; his cherished grandchildren, Raymond III, Kevin, Alison, Jake, Kelley, and Lilah Shoemaker, and Henry, Lily, Bridget and Ruby Smith; as well as many nieces and nephews. Ray was predeceased by his parents, Raymond & Antoinette Shoemaker; his sister, Mary Reitz; and his brother, Robert Shoemaker. A memorial service for Ray was held on December 22, 2015 at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison. Interment will be held at a later date at St. Mary Cemetery in Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in memory of Raymond can be made to: www.brightfocus.org, for research for Macular Degeneration.