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Raymond “Ray” J. Hamel 72, of Gwinn Michigan, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2014 surrounded by family at his daughter's home in Empire, Michigan. Born on November 1, 1941 in Highland Park, Michigan he was the son of the late Raymond C. Hamel and Bettina (Wallace) Cook.Ray served our country as a Small Arms Instructor in the United States Air Force for 27 years. He retired in 1986 as a Senior Master Sergeant. Upon retirement he continued working on K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base for the 410th Supply Squadron as the Superintendent of the Equipment Management Section until the base closed in 1995. In life your accomplishments are measured by the lives you touch. In that sense Ray lived a life that was immeasurable. In his 72 years as a son, husband, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, uncle, friend and serviceman his presence brought those around him joy, laughter, and strength. He was married to his high school sweetheart Marilyn (Donathan) Hamel for 52 years. His greatest happiness was his wife, their five children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He often said he could not fathom what he had done to deserve such love in his life. As an avid card player he spent countless hours at the kitchen table passing his knowledge and infectious passion for the game on to his grandchildren. Ray also loved working with his hands and being in the woods. His hobbies included carpentry, cutting opals, building deer antler chandeliers, ice fishing and dreaming up his next creation. He was a member of Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in Gwinn, Michigan and the American Legion Cribbage League in Little Lake, Michigan.Surviving Ray are his wife, Marilyn, his four children Mary Hollow (Mark), Cathleen Hamel, Al Hamel, and Jill Aylsworth (GT), his grandchildren Amber Hamel, Mark Church, Alexember Hamel, Rachel Hollow, Nicholas Hollow, Madeleine Aylsworth, Piper Aylsworth, Gwenyth Aylsworth, his great-grandchildren Raylee Underwood, Harlee Underwood, his sister Marianne (Cook) Mitchell, brother Allan Cook, sister-in-laws Ann Franklin, Kathleen Hayden (Dan), Martha Burke (Steve), Elizabeth Cannon (Jerry), Jane Babrick (John), brother-in-laws William Donathan Jr. (Barb), Christopher Donathan (Renee), Daniel Donathan and many nieces and nephews.Proceeding Ray in death are his parents Raymond and Bettina, his parents-in-law William and Madonna (Bodrie) Donathan, his son Mark Damien Hamel and brother-in-law Everett Franklin.Services for Raymond will be held on Wednesday September 3, 2014 at St. Mary’s of the Woods in Kalkaska, Michigan. Visitation will be at 10:00 A.M. followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 A.M.Memorials and/or donations can be sent to Marilyn Hamel, 3953 W Gilbert Farm Lane, Empire, Michigan 49630. Donations will be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Raymond’s memory.Condolences can be left online for the family at www.wolfeoneill.com.Arrangements were made by Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home, our family serving yours.

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Raymond Joseph Hamel

November 1, 1941 - August 29, 2014