Obituary of Raymond C. Dorman

Ray C. Dorman, aged 90, of West Ellicott, New York passed away peacefully on April 3, 2023 surrounded by his loving family at his home. Ray was born in Westfield, NY in 1933 and went on to attend Chautauqua High School and JCC where he obtained his drafting degree. His profession led him to King's Heating where he became a journeyman. In 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Winnifred Leroy, of Ashville, NY, and they spent 70 years together. Ray also started the first commercial ambulance service in Lakewood, NY. Ray moved to Southern California with his family to work for a large air conditioning company. He was known for his strong work ethic and was always the first in and last out of the workplace. Ray enjoyed many hobbies and was always looking for new adventures. He loved traveling and exploring new places with his wife and daughter, Debbie, who was a flight attendant. Ray also loved to fly planes and even earned his pilot's license while living in California. He owned a Harley Davidson motorcycle and spent many hours riding it. Ray loved deer hunting with his friends and got a deer every year. In the 1950s, Ray built race cars and raced with the famous driver Parnelli Jones. Ray was an excellent horseman and showed champion palomino horses in the LA area where he also owned a ranch. He built a cabin in the San Gabriel Mountains where he panned for gold on weekends. In 1969, Ray moved to Florida with his family and started a successful carpet store. He built an estate called Scarlet Manor styled after Tara from his daughter's favorite movie, 'Gone With The Wind'. In the 1970s, he drove tractor-trailers loaded with pipes used for the construction of the Alaska pipeline. He drove the famous Haul Road from Fairbanks Alaska to Prudhoe Bay, one of the most dangerous roads in the United States. Ray received a certificate of achievement for being the first truck driver to volunteer to drive across the newly built treacherous Yukon bridge which had a very steep drop off and no guardrails at the time. Ray returned home to Florida and built a 40-bed assisted living facility which he owned and operated for many years. Upon retirement, Ray and his Wife moved to New York and built a home on Chautauqua Lake. Ray spent his retirement hunting and fishing with his grandchildren and became an active member of the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Ray is survived by his wife, Winnifred Dorman, daughter, Debbie Eckstrand, son, Ray E. Dorman, sisters, Alberta Clark and Mary Leonard, and his grandchildren, Ricky, Lance, Rhett, Josh, Robin, Lisa, Elizabeth, and several great-grandchildren. Ray will forever be remembered for his hard work, adventurous spirit, and loving nature. The funeral will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 17th in the Lind Funeral Home. Friends will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday for two hours prior to the service. A private family committal will take place in Maple Grove Cemetery, Ashville. Memorials in honor of Ray Dorman can be donated to the Chautauqua County Humane Society. To leave a condolence, please visit www.lindfuneralhome.com.