​From Bill Bruce   

Sunday mornings in the winter were waiting on Buddy to show up at curling followed by "Dam it Vic - throw what I call" and then a "couple" of drinks and a cigar or two. Sundays and Tuesdays in the summer depending on the hole 'Put me down for a 5 or a 6 that's all I can count with my handicap" followed by a "couple" of drinks and certainly a couple of cigars. A marvelous man.

 

From Melanie Ellery  The Big Guy will be extremely missed. That voice. The cigar. The sense of humour and unexpected things he would say. Your Dad was one of a kind.

 

From Jennifer Zammit  Anytime I came across him, I loved his no b.s. attitude - the apples didn't fall far from the tree. A very "straighten up and fly right" kinda dude, if I can use a Mel Torme reference here. 

 

From Scott Wishart  I always enjoyed my conversations with your dad, who  told it like it is, often with a wry sense of humour, to boot. He'll be missed greatly. 

 

From Sonia Wolf  He was a great Guy! He always made me feel welcome in his home and made me feel like part of the family...He always had a story to share and had a great sense of humour. I'll miss Pops too! 

 

From Marie Innes  He was an outstanding man that helped me and my family through very difficult times throughout the years.

 

From David & Helga Barenberg  We were very sad to learn of Ray's death and will always have fond memories of being on the other side of a real estate transaction with him. We could always count on Ray's efficiency to get the transaction completed to the benefit of our mutual clients.

 

From Kathryn Ritsma, Monteith Ritsma Phillips  Our firm and staff were sorry to hear about your Dad's death. I was an articling student in 1982/1983 when I first met your dad as the Judge in Small Claim's Court. I had regular appearances before him for the next few years as I did a number of Small Claims Court attendances as a young lawyer. Your dad always took a common sense balanced approach to the cases before him. Over the years our firm always had a good working relationship with him originally as Mountain Mitchell and the n as Monteith Ritsma Phillips. If he saw me out and about he would call me "kiddo" even when I was well over the age of 40, this was a sign that your Dad "liked" you.

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From Lauren Francis   I adored your dear Dad. All those many years that I was with the Mountain, Mitchell Law Firm, your Dad was one of two solicitors in this town who would call and ask for the woman who was doing the work on a file, because he always said that it was the women in any law firm who really knew what was happening with a file. He made all the secretaries feel like they were such special and important parts of any law firm. Not all the area lawyers did that!!!! He was always so sweet and kind to all of us at Mountain, Mitchell and we loved whenever he would drop into the office. We always looked so forward to him attending the Mountain Mitchell Christmas Party that the lawyers would have downstairs in the lounge for the staff and some of their favourite business people downtown. Your Dad was always included in the "one of their favourite people" category! He'll be missed. He was a legend and such a nice down-to-earth guy.

 

From Brenda Alderson  I am deeply saddened by Ray's death. He was a kind, compassionate man with a real head on his shoulders. He has helped my family many times over the years, from my grandparents, to my parents, to myself. He was always there to listen and give sound advice, and lighten the atmosphere with a joke or story. He definitely was an angel here on earth! We are all fortunate to have known him.

 

From Matt Willemsen  Ray was a valued customer at our barber shop for many, many years. We shall miss Ray and his many stories.

 

From Robert Willey  Ray was a great small town lawyer, a real treasure; always ready with good down to earth advise. He will be missed. I am deeply saddened by his passing.

 

From Neil Matheson  Your Dad was a true free spirit & personality in the nicest way, he would have been a great character actor in film but, wait, he did that anyway without the need for Hollywood. My favourite recollections are the Saturday office with cigar & undershirt ’together’ & his handsome way of ‘being’ as he walked his way to appointments with always a kind hello & a warm smile.