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Raymond passed away in the Burns Lake hospital after a short illness. He was born in the Smithers hospital and lived in the area all his life. He was predeceased by his mother Fay Ball and father Bill Ball, sister Jean Fontaine and brother Eldon Ball. He has one surviving sister, Betty Pattinson.

Raymond married Dorreen Payne on Nov 16, 1946 and they had one son, Ron (Barb), grandchildren Deanna and Arlene, and three great grandchildren Nolan, Dallas and Cami. Raymond and his family lived in Forestdale the first few years of his life where he attended school, then moved to Perow. When Raymond and Dorreen were married, they moved to Rose Lake where they were still living. Raymond's working career started at a young age as he would travel around the country on his bicycle shearing sheep at the different farms, often as far as Smithers. When he became old enough he started working on the small tie and lumber mills that dotted the area, and eventually owning his own. Then in 1948, he bought his first truck and began a career that would span many years. He hauled lumber and logs from then until he sold the business and retired in 1988. He hauled in the Burns Lake area until 1962, then went to work hauling logs in Houston, and except for a short stint in Prince George and Terrace, stayed there until retirement. It was a job he loved and was good at. After that he decided he was too young for retirement at 65 and went to work for Decker Lake Forest Products as a watchman until he was 70. Raymond liked to travel and there are very few roads in B.C. that he and Dorreen didn't see through the windshield of the motorhome.

They also got to know the road to Reno quite well over the years. Raymond loved to play cards, especially cribbage and many games were played over the years with friends and relatives. In the last few years, Raymond and Dorreen would head to town every morning at 9 o'clock. They had a coffee route they followed religiously and he was still doing it two weeks before his passing. Raymond will be greatly missed by his many friends and family.



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