Raymond passed away on Monday, October 2, 2017. He was 88 years old. Ray was born on the family farm the 9th of 10 children in Hampton Twp. MI on March 20, 1929 to the late Edward LaForest & Nora (Stagray) LaForest. Ray married Pauline Edna Wood on Jan 8, 1949 and together they had 9 children. Ray was a member of the United States Army and served from 1946 until 1952 and was with the 892nd Ord Co in Korea and has his WWII Victory Medal and his Army of Occupation Medal Japan. Ray retired from the Bay City Chevrolet Plant in Bay City MI after 35 years. He then traveled via Motor Home all over the country with his second wife, Calista Spencer Coyer LaForest whom he married on June 12th 1982 and gained 6 Step Children.

Ray enjoyed playing cards, chess, metal detecting and going to the Casinos as well as hunting in his earlier years. Ray is survived by his sister Nancy Loll of MI and his children, Linda Ann and husband Jackie Brandhurst of Indiana. Mary Theresa LaForest of Ontario Canada, Gerald Paul LaForest of MI, his daughter and law Lee Ann (Kordelski) LaForest of LasVegas, John Henry LaForest and wife Barbara (Alamanteoff) of MI, Jesse Joel LaForest and wife Kimberly (Albach) of MI, Deborah Marie and husband Lynn Harper of New York and Gina Marie LaForest of MI as well as his step children, Caroline Peterson, Susan Jahnke Purdy, Ruth Dykes and Mary Tallenger, daughters-in-law, Connie Coyer of MO and Carol Coyer of MI. 21 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Gregory Michael LaForest and Calvin Mark LaForest as well as two step sons Edmund Coyer and James Coyer, 2 grandchildren, Matthew LaForest and Shelly Moughler Crowl;1 great grandchild, Dirk Adams, as well as his siblings, Arthur and wife Irene, Laura and husband William Clancey, Clara and husband John Mersheimer, Joseph and wife Katherine, Mable LaForest, Leona LaForest, Dorothy Gillespie, Elizabeth and husband Bernard Bogart as well as his 1st Wife Pauline Wood LaForest Turner of Ontario Canada and his 2nd wife Calista Spencer Coyer LaForest of MI.

The Funeral Liturgy will take place Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish-St. John the Evangelist Church (614 Pine St. Essexville, MI 48732). The celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Dale A. Orlik with the Rite of Committal at Calvary Cemetery followed by Military Honor’s conducted by the Bay County Veterans Council and the U.S. Army. The family will be present at the funeral home on Wednesday to receive family and friends from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Vigil for the Deceased will take place on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Ray will be taken to the church on Thursday to lie in state from 9:00 a.m. until the time of mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider donations to Wishes of the Family.