Mike Raymond - LHS Class of 1958

Michael A. Raymond died on April 4, 2016 at Crystal Ridge Care Home in Grass Valley, California.  His death came after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He lived 53 of his 76 years in California.  He was a lifelong Lutheran and a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley.  He was a positive person and would go to extraordinary lengths to accomplish his objectives or to correct any wrongs or misunderstandings.  He always defined the parameters of problems and realized that solutions could best be achieved through compromise and negotiation.
He was born February 18, 1940 in Leavenworth, Kansas, the son of Walter and Dorothy (Meyer) Raymond.  He received his BS degree in Accounting at Kansas State University in 1963 and ventured to California immediately thereafter finding a position with a CPA firm in Long Beach.  One hundred days later, he was selected to be a part of the first Pershing missile unit in Germany.  At the end of his two years in the Army, he took discharge in Europe and traveled 5000 miles on an Italian Lambretta scooter through seven countries, including several stops in Switzerland to meet the 13 surviving brothers and sisters of his Swiss grandparents.  Michael was a proud American, claiming both California and Kansas as home but he had an inner feeling much like that of homesickness about his Swiss heritage.  He visited and maintained close relations with scores of cousins in the USA and Switzerland for the remainder of his life.
After the Army, he returned to the CPA firm in Long Beach but after his first visit to San Francisco he discovered the multicultural atmosphere akin to what he had experienced in Europe.  He immediately moved to San Francisco and worked for the CPA firm of Price Waterhouse for two years.  His career aspirations took him to Foremost-McKesson, now known just as McKesson, where he worked for 26 years, retiring as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis.  He always said to beware ‘analysis paralysis’ and work expediently to make a decision; gather all the facts, be objective and remain unbiased.  During his career, he always found time to help young people by volunteering as a tutor and advisor in tutoring programs to underprivileged children, remedial high schools and in the Junior Achievement program.
Michael was well known for his friendly and outgoing nature.  His parents would remark that since the age of two, he never knew a stranger.  He made a conscientious effort to befriend everyone he would meet.  One of his sayings was that every time he would go to town he would meet somebody new and engage them in lengthy conversation.  He had a genuine interest in the welfare and feelings of others, sometimes neglecting his own health and well-being.  He frequently counseled others to help them resolve their problems and situations. He had a knack of understanding their feelings and knew how to discuss all the facts so that the person could feel responsible for their own decision.  He loved to share his experiences, especially with children and younger people in hopes that they would avoid pitfalls and set their own goals for their lives.  Since his youth, Michael showed a lot of attention to his elders starting with his Swiss grandfather, Ernest Reymond; that affection continued with neighbors, friend he met along Deer Creek and his 97 year old uncle, Ed Raymond, a WWII vet in Wichita, Kansas, whom he phoned every Sunday.
Michael is survived by his wife of 33 years, Patricia of Grass Valley; sister, Margaret (LHS Class of 1956) (Bob) Meyer of Leavenworth, Kansas; brother-in-law, Daniel (Theresa) Corte-Real of North Carolina and stepson, Kenneth (Adela) Tavares of Texas.  He loved his grandchildren, Alejandro, Julie and Cristian, to whom he was known as ‘Grumpy’; nieces, Linda (Ed) Holm, Connie Shelley, Loretta Corte-Real; grandnephews, Kristoffer (Katie) and Jeremy (Nicole) Holm and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 1979 Ridge Road, Grass Valley on Saturday, April 9th at 1:00 PM.
Arrangements are under the care of Hooper and Weaver Mortuary in Nevada City, CA.