READSBORO, Vt. — Raymond A. Hathaway, 78, of Readsboro, Vt., passed away at home on December 27, 2018. 

Ray was born in Northampton, Mass., on April 8, 1940, to Herman A. and Ethelwyn W. (Wilder) Hathaway. He was raised in Ashfield, Mass., and attended Sanderson Academy. At the age of 17, he moved to Newfoundland, New Jersey, to live with his father. They both worked at the local sawmill. 

In January 1958, he married Gertrude (Honey) Boge, and they moved to Succasunna, New Jersey, where he worked for several construction outfits as a heavy equipment operator. It was during this time that he was working for a company that built what was then known as bi-level homes. He was able to obtain the plans for one of these homes, and after the birth of his son Randy in June 1959, he moved his family back to Massachusetts. His father joined him in this move and the two of them operated a portable sawmill on Tilda Hill Road on Florida Mountain. 

Ray and his family moved back and forth from Massachusetts to New Jersey several times before they decided to settle in Stamford, Vt., where they built their own bi-level home. It was the first of this type of home in the area and is now known as a split-level house. During one of these moves to New Jersey, his son Danny was born in September 1966. Ray worked as a self-employed logger for many years. He also worked for Krutiak Wood Products, Tietgens Trucking and Excavation, and Eagle Lumber. 

Ray enjoyed motorcycling in his younger years and owned a Harley Davidson. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing later in life. The fishing derby in Readsboro, Vt.,was something he looked forward to attending every year with his son, grandson and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed many trips to Somerset, Vt., and Maine. 

Ray was a Boston Red Sox and a New England Patriots fan. He was a member of the Greylock Club in North Adams, Mass., and the American Legion in Readsboro, Vt., and was a Mason and Past Master of Unity Lodge 89 of Jacksonville, Vt.

Ray leaves behind his son, Randy (wife Jo Ann) Hathaway of North Adams; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Winona (husband Malcolm) Corse of Conway, Mass., and Viola “Bunny” Hathaway (partner Bill Thompson) of Ashfield, Mass.; long-time companion Carol Potter and her family of Pownal, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Ray was predeceased by his son, Daniel; and his sister, Ida Kolesinski.

Funeral notice: There will be a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. at the VFW Post 996, 573 Mohawk Trail, North Adams, Mass., on January 12, 2019. Burial will be in the spring in Ashfield, Mass.