Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
RAY MARKHAM
FUNERAL HOME
RAY MARKHAM Obituary
May 15, 1943 ~ March 13, 2026
Raymond Frederick Markham was born on May 15, 1943 in Kenora, Ontario. He had 82 wonderful years on this earth, passing away on March 13, 2026 after a courageous four year battle with cancer.
Ray moved from Kenora and went to work in the Woodlands Operations of Great Lakes Paper Company in Graham District where he started as a Mechanic in 1967. The next year, he was put on staff as the Mechanical Foreman in Ignace District. Ray quickly rose up the ranks, and a year and a half later, in 1969, was transferred to Thunder Bay and promoted to Woodlands Maintenance Coordinator for all field operations. In 1980, Ray was transferred to Dryden as Mechanical Superintendent for the Woodlands after Great Lakes purchased the Dryden Mill and Woodlands operations. In 1989, he was transferred back to Thunder Bay to the position of Woodlands Development Superintendent, where he remained until his retirement in the year 2000. During 1970 until 1983, Ray was also enrolled at Lakehead University night school and correspondence courses at the University of Toronto in order to complete his university education in Industrial Management. After that, Ray never stopped upgrading his knowledge and skills to keep up with the changing world. During those years, he was appointed as a member of the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada Advisory Committee on forest engineering (FERIC). In 2000 after retiring for two weeks, Ray started consulting as a Forest Harvesting and Costing Consultant all over Canada, the United States, in South America and Australia, which he continued to do for 25 years.
Ray got his private pilot licence while living in Dryden, and he then joined the Dryden Flying Club. He also got his float and ski endorsement, spending many years as a member of the club Executive. During Ray's life, his greatest pleasure was his children. By the time they were 6 years old, he had taught them to ski in the winter, and to swim, water ski, fish and ride a bike in the summer. These early skills lead to many great family winter vacations skiing out west in the mountains. In Ray's 40's, he took up road cycling and continued to cycle long distances until last year. Over the years, his love for fishing took him on 30 annual fly-in fishing trips with friends and coworkers north of Ignace and out west as well. Ray always made time for deer and moose hunting every year since he was a teenager. Once he retired, Ray joined the Port Arthur Hunt Club, spending 25 years as a member on Whitefish Lake hunting as well as being on the Executive. Ray loved to travel, whether it was work related or pleasure. Being in remote foreign countries interested him the most, and he found them very educational. One of the most interesting trips to him was going to Africa to do relief work in Rwanda. While he was there, Ray spent three days with guides in the Virunga Mountains to track, locate, and film Silverback Gorillas. He also crossed the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania during the great animal migration and some time at Mount Kilimanjaro, Island of Zanzibar, and Ethiopia. Ray and Linda enjoyed spending 15 winters in Arizona golfing, cycling, and spending fun times with family and friends.
Ray was predeceased by his mother Evelyn (nee Brown) and father Fred Markham; sister Maureen McComb (Ron) as well as his nephews Hal, Kelly, Mike, and Jim.
Ray is survived by his beloved partner, Linda Carlson; son Dan Markham (Lynette) of Windermere, British Columbia, daughter Maija Lee of West Virginia, son Cliff Markham and granddaughter Jaeda of Cochrane, Alberta; sister Nancy Markham (Lorne) and her son Clayton of Kenora; daughter-in-law Kirsten Prokopetz (Adam) and their daughters Lila and Maci of Thunder Bay; nieces Melissa Dufrenne (Lyndon) of Thunder Bay, Jacqueline Malic (Glenn) of Winnipeg, Kerri Lowe (Don) and their daughters Kaitlyn and Karly of Lethbridge, Alberta. He is also survived by numerous cousins and extended family, as well as many cherished lifelong friends.
A special thanks to Dr. Chan and Dr. Sellick, RN's and off site support staff at the Thunder Bay Regional/Cancer Centre for the wonderful care.
As per his wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be a Celebration of Ray's Life on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 11:30am in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James with a luncheon to follow. A private interment will be held in Mountainview Cemetery.
One of Ray's funny sayings of many.... "We're not here for a haircut"
Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
Raymond Frederick Markham was born on May 15, 1943 in Kenora, Ontario. He had 82 wonderful years on this earth, passing away on March 13, 2026 after a courageous four year battle with cancer.
Ray moved from Kenora and went to work in the Woodlands Operations of Great Lakes Paper Company in Graham District where he started as a Mechanic in 1967. The next year, he was put on staff as the Mechanical Foreman in Ignace District. Ray quickly rose up the ranks, and a year and a half later, in 1969, was transferred to Thunder Bay and promoted to Woodlands Maintenance Coordinator for all field operations. In 1980, Ray was transferred to Dryden as Mechanical Superintendent for the Woodlands after Great Lakes purchased the Dryden Mill and Woodlands operations. In 1989, he was transferred back to Thunder Bay to the position of Woodlands Development Superintendent, where he remained until his retirement in the year 2000. During 1970 until 1983, Ray was also enrolled at Lakehead University night school and correspondence courses at the University of Toronto in order to complete his university education in Industrial Management. After that, Ray never stopped upgrading his knowledge and skills to keep up with the changing world. During those years, he was appointed as a member of the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada Advisory Committee on forest engineering (FERIC). In 2000 after retiring for two weeks, Ray started consulting as a Forest Harvesting and Costing Consultant all over Canada, the United States, in South America and Australia, which he continued to do for 25 years.
Ray got his private pilot licence while living in Dryden, and he then joined the Dryden Flying Club. He also got his float and ski endorsement, spending many years as a member of the club Executive. During Ray's life, his greatest pleasure was his children. By the time they were 6 years old, he had taught them to ski in the winter, and to swim, water ski, fish and ride a bike in the summer. These early skills lead to many great family winter vacations skiing out west in the mountains. In Ray's 40's, he took up road cycling and continued to cycle long distances until last year. Over the years, his love for fishing took him on 30 annual fly-in fishing trips with friends and coworkers north of Ignace and out west as well. Ray always made time for deer and moose hunting every year since he was a teenager. Once he retired, Ray joined the Port Arthur Hunt Club, spending 25 years as a member on Whitefish Lake hunting as well as being on the Executive. Ray loved to travel, whether it was work related or pleasure. Being in remote foreign countries interested him the most, and he found them very educational. One of the most interesting trips to him was going to Africa to do relief work in Rwanda. While he was there, Ray spent three days with guides in the Virunga Mountains to track, locate, and film Silverback Gorillas. He also crossed the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania during the great animal migration and some time at Mount Kilimanjaro, Island of Zanzibar, and Ethiopia. Ray and Linda enjoyed spending 15 winters in Arizona golfing, cycling, and spending fun times with family and friends.
Ray was predeceased by his mother Evelyn (nee Brown) and father Fred Markham; sister Maureen McComb (Ron) as well as his nephews Hal, Kelly, Mike, and Jim.
Ray is survived by his beloved partner, Linda Carlson; son Dan Markham (Lynette) of Windermere, British Columbia, daughter Maija Lee of West Virginia, son Cliff Markham and granddaughter Jaeda of Cochrane, Alberta; sister Nancy Markham (Lorne) and her son Clayton of Kenora; daughter-in-law Kirsten Prokopetz (Adam) and their daughters Lila and Maci of Thunder Bay; nieces Melissa Dufrenne (Lyndon) of Thunder Bay, Jacqueline Malic (Glenn) of Winnipeg, Kerri Lowe (Don) and their daughters Kaitlyn and Karly of Lethbridge, Alberta. He is also survived by numerous cousins and extended family, as well as many cherished lifelong friends.
A special thanks to Dr. Chan and Dr. Sellick, RN's and off site support staff at the Thunder Bay Regional/Cancer Centre for the wonderful care.
As per his wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be a Celebration of Ray's Life on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 11:30am in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James with a luncheon to follow. A private interment will be held in Mountainview Cemetery.
One of Ray's funny sayings of many.... "We're not here for a haircut"
Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on Mar. 21, 2026.
Memories and Condolences
for RAY MARKHAM
Sponsored by Everest Funeral Chapel The Westfort Chapel.
How you can show support
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.