| Graduation Year | Class of 1960 |
| Date of Passing | Nov 11, 2022 |
| About | Ray was born in Haslett, Michigan in 1942 to Raymond Sherwood McGiveron and Marion Madge (nèe Herbison) McGiveron. The first of two children his sister Donna was born two years later. Ray attended Haslett high school where he ran track and graduated in 1960. He grew up hunting and fishing in the Haslett/ Lake Lansing area. The summer after high school graduation he worked as a counselor at a boy’s camp where he taught sailing and archery. He attended both Alma College and later Michigan State University. At MSU he worked as an apprentice sheet metal worker, eventually attaining journeyman status. In 1962 he married his high school sweetheart Judith Ann (Jann) Smith. They had two children and remained married for over 30 years. In December 1973 the family moved to Wallace, in Michigan’s upperpeninsula, where Ray started building the Dundain line of wood stoves in their garage. In the late 70’s he bought the Folstad Implement business in Menominee, Michigan, renamed it McGiveron’s Metal Shop, and installed HVAC systems, sold and serviced lawn & garden equipment, and built small commercial fishing boats which still ply the Great Lakes. The Shop shut down in the 80’s due to the economic recession. Ray had a lifelong love of hunting, fishing, art, history, literature, and building, all of which he passed on to both his children. In increasingly poor health in his later years, he died of natural causes at Burcham Hills nursing home in East Lansing, Michigan. Ray was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his ex-wife, Jann; sons, Fletcher and Lewis; daughter in laws, Marlina and Cheri; nephew, Rafeeq; grandchildren, Alexis (Alex) Pathfinder and Kyle Alexis; great grandchild, Nola Alexis. He will be missed by all who knew him. There will be a private memorial service for close friends and family at a later date. Condolences can be sent to the family at Palmer Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Home, Lansing Chapel, 520 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing, Michigan 48910. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Volunteers of America in memory of Ray McGiveron. |
