pAfter a hard-fought battle with cancer, Ray Richard Dockstader died on May 25 2016 at Samaritan Medical ICU in Watertown NY at the age of 74. He leaves behind his grieving wife, Sally Dockstader, and three sons, Chaun, Shiloh and Shannon Dockstader, as well as two daughters from a previous marriage, Randy Dockstader Malleos and Merle Dockstader Jones. Within the past four years so many health issues were thrown at him including CLL, anemia, Emphysema and then on May 2nd, he was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia which rapidly progressed. Ray was born on October 7 1941 in Berwyn, Illinois to Ray Ira and Josephine M Dato Dockstader. He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Frank and James. He has one brother, Michael Dockstader living in Alabama. In July 1979, after a two-year courtship in letters, Ray came to Adams NY, and July 22 1979 was married to Sally Ann Snyder by the Adams Assembly of God Church Pastor David Stanton. At age 18 he worked for Simmons Mattress in Illinois and was in charge of $250K worth of inventory. In the early 1960’s he worked as a deckhand on various riverboats on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. His first boat was the GLENDA S. He moved to NYC and joined the Merchant Marines and went to work as an able bodied seaman and went on the deep sea. He saw action in Vietnam and worked on the ships: ATTLEBORO VICTORY, INDEPENDENCE, VALLEYFORGE, MARINE DOW CHEM, CONSTITUTION, etc. Ray to fulfill his dream of seeing the world, his favorites being Paris and Spain. He lived in Paris France in 1972 but only found work as a dishwasher, so flew back to NYC where he hitch-hiked to San Francisco CA and was hit by a car and both legs were broken ending career in Merchant Marine after 17 yrs. While in California he was baptized in the Pacific Ocean Ray went on to get a degree in Hospitality and tourism and worked as custodian at JCC, Yellow Cab, All Star Cab, and 801 constructions. In the 1980s, he was active in the Assembly of God church in teaching Sunday school as well as the acting custodian. Ray had a great sense of humor, was highly intelligent, witty - always willing to help. Interested in history, antiques, coins, and reading and was actively working on the Dockstader genealogy as well as a website on Stone houses of the North Country and was a talented writer as well. He and Sally bred and showed Persian cats for 16 years. He especially liked taking them to the cat shows and bringing back ribbons. He and his wife, Sally shared a very deep and special bond in their marriage and were inseparable. He wanted to show her the world and see Europe again through her eyes which he did twice. He was her anchor in a storm, her best friend and she was his. He emailed her love-notes daily. saying such things as “The love of my life, my Lighthouse in a stormy sea, the calming breeze after a cold, tough winter, my rock and my anchor. I love you so very very much.” and “Since your retirement it seems like every day is a holiday so, today, yesterday and all the tomorrows I will love you like each day was valentines.” Ray, your presence touched so many people. You will be missed and never forgotten. Calling hours will be at Carpenter-Stoodley in Belleville on DAY at TIME. Funeral Service will be held at TIME on DATE. Interment will be in the Adams Rural Cemetery In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting financial assistance for the services./p
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