Shirley Ann Raymond

Westfield - Shirley A. (Gravel) Raymond, aged 88, died at her home in Westfield on May 2, 2023 after many years of decline due to the complications of Alzheimer’s disease.  Born in Millbury, Mass., she was the daughter of the late George Gravel and Loretta (Gover) Gravel. Shirley grew up in Springfield and graduated from Springfield Trade School where she met the love of her life, Charlie Raymond, whom she married in 1954. Charlie died in 2021. Throughout the 1950’s Shirley worked after school and on Saturdays as a power sewing machine operator for Henry Ilgowski, on Dwight St. in Springfield and later for Henry’s son-in-law’s raincoat factory sewing and being the leader opening the shop every morning. She had also worked at Kestrow’s Plastic making inflatable toys with heat machines. She worked for Carters as inspector and invisible mender. While her children were young, she had various jobs in the home including making silk flower arrangements for Pat Reache. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for 12 years. Shirley was crafty and enjoyed crocheting. She stayed home to raise her four children until returning to the work force in September of 1976 at Noble & Cooley Drum Factory in Granville as a press operator. She enjoyed the many jobs she learned and she especially loved her coworkers, many becoming longtime friends. Shirley had many adventures with her husband traveling the east coast from New England to Florida. She was a former member of Valley Sports Car Club of Springfield MA, Pioneer Valley Sno-Goers in Southwick and the Mohawk Trailblazers of Florida, MA. Shirley and Charlie were members of the Baystate Woodies ACBS boat club for decades. You would find them at shows around New England. Shirley was a loving grandmother and a devoted mom and wife. She will be dearly missed by her sister Elaine Jacobs and her daughters Tina Peters (Herbie), Tammy Colson and Pamela Jakubiec (Mark) and her son Charles Raymond Jr. (Jeanna) along with her grandchildren Naome, Andrew, Nathan, Tonia, Jessica, Branden and Sophia along with her great-grandchildren Elyza, Emma, Hannah, Aria, Carter, Eleanor, Luke, and Chloe and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hour 10:30 a.m. t0 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2023  at Curran & Jones Funeral Home, 109 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089 followed by burial at Agawam Center Cemetery. A celebration of life for Shirley and her husband Charlie will be held sometime in the future. In lieu of flowers, please send your donation in Shirley’s memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Springfield Unit, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104