Elvin Frederick Raymond

Elvin Frederick Raymond, devoted husband, father and grandfather, was called home by his heavenly Father on July 15, 2007. Elvin grew up in D’Iberville, where he chose to live most of his life. On August 27, 1950, he married his high school sweetheart, Melonie Duggan prior to serving his country in the US National Guard Army Reserves. He was originally assigned to Company C 193rd at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK , then served in the 631st Armored Field Artillery Service Battery, as a guard in the POW camp in Hammberg, Germany during the Korean war. Upon his return from tour of duty, the young couple started their family, while he worked as a store manager for William Skellie, at Skellie’s grocery in Long Beach. He moved his family to Biloxi in 1960, where his talents found him managing H.G. Hills Store in Biloxi, then at the Exhange at Keesler Air Force Base. In 1964, he purchased the home in which he grew up, on Borries Street in D’Iberville. He started his career at Ingalls Shipbuilding as a Procurement Supervisor, which lasted 15 years until his retirement in 1988. The home he loved was nearly destroyed in 1969 by Hurricane Camille, but Elvin rebuilt it, and he and the love of his life, Melonie, lived there until it was taken again in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Despite a long-time battle with heart disease, Elvin rarely slowed down. For many years, he made hundreds of unique, one-of-a-kind birdhouses. He sold many of them, but had such a generous heart, he gave many more away. For this, family and friends called him “PawPaw Birdhouse”. He loved the outdoors, and spent many hours hunting and fishing – a passion he often shared with his sons. As long as his health allowed, he made an annual trip to South Dakota where he stayed with friends while hunting for big game, rounding up cattle by horseback, and shearing sheep. If the sun was shining, (and many times when it wasn’t) Elvin could be found fishing somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico – a place that he knew like the back of his hand. Elvin also had a “unique” hobby of raising “racing” turtles, which he “trained” for races to raise money at church bazaars. “Turtleman”, (as he was known) spent many hours, entertaining the crowds, while raising thousands of dollars for charity. Although he had lost his own home after Katrina, he donated countless hours with the MS Gulf Coast Chapter of Quota International, helping organize and distribute Christmas gifts and blankets to victims in Waveland, as well as visiting and entertaining children in Bay St. Louis and Biloxi. A devout Catholic, Elvin served as Eucharistic Minister for Sacred Heart Church in D’Iberville, and at Our Lady of Fatima in Biloxi, where he and Melonie relocated after Katrina. He served in various capacities with the Knights of Columbus, and in his lifetime, he was recognized twice by the Pope, for his outstanding service to his church and his community. Elvin is preceded in death by his parents, Edward & Vernette Raymond of D’Iberville, and an identical twin brother, Melvin. The two of them were best known as “Pete” (Melvin) and “Repeat” (Elvin). He leaves behind a legacy of love… his devoted wife Melonie, son David, and his wife Susan Raymond of Warner-Robins, GA; daughter, and his “Princess” Vicki (Miller) and her husband Tom of Gulfport; son Timothy “Tim” Raymond of Saucier, and son Edward “Eddie” Raymond of Woolmarket. He is also survived by a brother, William “Bill” Raymond, Sr. his wife Geri, and a sister, Judy Evans and her husband Tom. Elvin’s pride and joy was his grandchildren: Mandie Holovach and her husband Tim of Warner-Robins, GA; Chris Raymond and his wife Carla of Warner-Robins, GA; Tim, Jr., Jenny, Olivia and Cody Raymond of Biloxi; and Joshua Daniels of Gulfport. He’ll also be missed by his five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and hundreds of friends whose lives he forever touched with his humor, generosity and zest for life. The family extends special thanks to the doctors and staff of Memorial Hospital at Gulfport for their wonderful care and concern. Visitation is Tuesday, July 17, 2007, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 12 noon at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be made to Elvin’s favorite charities: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, One St. Jude Place Building, Memphis, TN 38148-0552, or St. Vincent De Paul Society, 681 Division St., Biloxi, MS 39530, or to the American Heart Association, Southeast Affiliate, P. O. Box 409410, Atlanta, GA 30384-9410.