Raymond Snow

1938 - 2024

Raymond Snow

Turners Falls and Shelburne Falls, MA - Raymond Milton Snow, III passed away on January 24, 2024. He was born on July 31, 1938 and grew up in Southbridge, MA where as a child and teen he collected eggs from his family's chickens, sold corn he grew in a neighbor's field, and worked hauling milk in a cooperative dairy.

Ray was an independent thinker. As a young adult, he was active in civil rights, and worked as a teacher, then social worker. Later, he drove a taxi in NYC and a school bus in Boston, including during the intense bussing years when anti-integration parents threw fruit and stones at his bus as he transported the children he very much cared for; he was active in the bus driver's union. Ray was a vegan, anti-war, loved playing frisbee (even inside his parked school bus in winter!), hiking (especially in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton), and playing cribbage and a number of games (especially when he won!). He was an avid reader, an expert in history, geography, and jazz; kids loved to play with him, and he loved poetry, often mailing his daughters his musings and the writing of others that caught his eye.

Ray was married for a short time to Virginia Kahrman (now Keddy), whom he met when she was in high school, and he graduated from Springfield College. Ray could be stubborn and sarcastic, also kind and generous; "love" was his favorite word.

His parents, Rachel and Milton, predeceased him. He leaves his daughters Suzette and Cindy, who are thankful for his presence in their lives and will very much miss him. He also leaves their spouses, Stephen Cobb and Steve Earp; grandchildren Micah, Avery, and Tristan Snow-Cobb, and Renna and Wylie Earp; as well as his sisters Nancy (Cliff Engelhardt), Marion (John Hichwa), and Sandy (Linwood Rowland); and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves long-term partners from years ago, Ora Gamble of Savannah, GA, and Jenniffer Tyler of Roxbury, MA, as well as their children and grandchildren, with whom he enjoyed spending time as they grew up.

Ray had Alzheimer's during the last nine or so years of his life, living in Shelburne Falls and Turners Falls.

We are grateful for the care, compassion, and joy his companions brought to his later years-Asma, Dave, Sita, Janice, Mark, his grandchildren, and others, as well as the staff at the Center for Extended Care at Amherst, Blaire House of Worcester, New England Hospice, and the Shelburne Falls Senior Center.

A green burial will be held at Highland Woods, Montague, MA, for family. A celebration of his life will be held when the weather is better; contact the family for details.

Arrangements are by the Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home of Shelburne Falls, MA.