Raymond Joseph Besancon

Raymond Joseph Besancon, 89, of Smithville, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 at West View Healthy Living in Wooster after a brief illness.

Ray was born on Oct. 24, 1933 in Wooster to Francis A. and Laura J. Pailliotet Besancon.  He attended Smithville High School and had served in the Army National Guard.    Ray married Louise Irene Singer on June 2, 1956 and she preceded him in death on Dec. 4, 2015.  On July 14, 2018 he married Rosemary Smucker and she survives.  Ray worked in Agriculture all of his life having worked for American Breeder Services as well as being engaged in farming.   Ray’s passion was his Haflinger Horses that he enjoyed raising on his farm on Fredericksburg Road and he loved showing them at the Wayne County Fair.  He had also worked for Singer Products in Smithville. Raymond was a great outdoorsman who spent countless hours cutting wood and he is remembered for his love of people and his sense of humor.  He was a faithful member of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Surviving is his wife, Rosemary; his children and their spouses, Rick and Janice Besancon of Orrville, Bonnie and Dave Ogden of Wooster, Randy and Lori Besancon of Fredericksburg  and Jackie Besancon and Jeff Martin of Wooster; 12 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; step-children,  Sue and Mike Fielding of Dublin, John and Betsy Smucker of Smithville, Bob and Lillian Smucker of Smithville, Christine and Adam Wilford of Wooster and Mary and Fritz Schroder of Pennsylvania; 14 step-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; brother, Richard (Lea Ann) Besancon of Smithville and sisters-in-law, Betty Besancon of Sterling and Paulette Besancon of Wooster and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death  by his wife, Louise Besancon; an infant son, Larry in 1958;  his parents and  siblings, Adrian Besancon, Eileen Nicholas, Joseph Besancon, Vincent Besancon, Bernadette Besancon, Beatrice Garver, Bernard Ronald Besancon and Mary Jane Tope

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wooster with Father Stephen Moran officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Fredericksburg.  Memorial contributions may be made to LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster., OH 44691.

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