Herman Raymond "Ray" Harper's Obituary
Herman Raymond “Ray” Harper, 78, longtime resident of Alachua, Florida, died Sunday, May 27, 2018, at his home, following a long illness.
Mr. Harper was a native of Malone, New York, born on May 22, 1940 to the late Frederick and Florence Harper. As a young man he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam and rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He lived in Salisbury, Maryland before moving to Alachua in 1980. Mr. Harper worked as a line maintenance man for Coca-Cola for several years, before going to work for PCR Chemical company, where he worked for 18 years, before his retirement in 2003. He then went to work for the Alachua County Recycling plant in High Springs, where he worked for 12 years, before retiring in 2015.
Mr. Harper was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of High Springs, helping out wherever needed. He was never one to sit around, even after retiring, he could be found tinkering around with whatever needed attention, or building something in his woodshop, or collecting various things. He was a sports fan, loving his New York Yankees or anything to do with Gator sports. Mr. Harper was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Gator Detachment of the Marine Corps League of Gainesville.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Rosalie Harper and brother, Frederick Harper.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marie Harper; a daughter, Brenda (Richard) Bright; and a granddaughter, Katelyn Bright, all of Jensen Beach, FL; sisters, Anna Marie Humiston and Mary Benoir both of Malone, NY; brothers-in-law, George (Barbara) Durity, of Walterboro, SC and James (Linda) Durity, of Houston, DE.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 11:00 A.M., in the First United Methodist Church of High Springs, 17405 U. S. Hwy 441, High Springs, with Rev. Sam Maihack, officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 A.M. Interment with military honors will follow in Hague Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or to the First United Methodist Church of High Springs, 17405 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs, FL 32643.
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