CLINTON – Raymond James Nile, the elder son of Irene Lillian Nile Childs, ended his battle with cancer at his home on Sunday, April 26. Those who knew and loved Ray, knew that he lived his life with strength, dignity, courage and humor, and battled his cancer in much the same way.

He was born at home in Langtown Plantation, on Sept. 28, 1939. He attended Stratton and Kingfield schools, and graduated from Stratton High School in 1958. Throughout his boyhood, he hunted and fished and worked at logging in the woods of Maine’s Western Mountains, learning alongside his grandfather and uncles.

After high school graduation, he worked full-time in the woods before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He trained extensively in radio repair, and served in Evreux, France in the 37th Air Support Group. Although that airbase was eventually closed, the airmen who served there continue to hold regular reunions, and he delighted in traveling and meeting with his fellow servicemen.

Upon returning to the U.S. and civilian life, he was employed by IBM in Boston in the field engineering division, starting as a field engineer, and retiring after 30 years as a service manager. His expertise and skill continued to be sought out, and he worked at Northeastern University in Boston as a fiber optic network manager. He retired again in December 2006, and took up his battle with cancer in January 2007.

He married Laurie Jo Scribner on Dec. 27, 1958, and together they raised four children. Their marriage ended in 1979. Eventually, he met Susan Kowalczik and they married on Nov. 25, 1989. He and Sue divided their time between residences in Pembroke, Mass., (during the workweek) and Clinton, (on weekends).

He loved to keep busy, and was perpetually active, whether working at his job or on a project at home, or bringing a lively and competitive spirit to his recreational pursuits, particularly golfing, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and gardening. He loved to travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on golfing excursions, and he and Sue were very happy to purchase a home in Florida, where he looked forward to golfing, dining, and tooling around in a golf cart. Even while fighting cancer, he golfed, gardened and traveled to Florida when he was able.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Sue; his four children and five grandchildren, David Nile and his wife, Paula, of Stratton, and their daughter, Emma; Wendy Nile Black and her husband, Jeff, of Biddeford, and their sons, Ian, Evan, and Sean; Michael Nile of Malden, Mass.; Jonathan Nile of Nantucket, Mass., and his son, Sovann, of Oquossoc, and their mother, Laurie Jo Harding of Stratton; all of his five siblings, Hazel Nile of Evergreen Manor in Farmington, Richard Nile and his wife, Carla, of Mexico, Donna Maine and her husband, Ken, of Stratton, Genevieve Dubois and her husband, Carroll, of Clinton and Bethany Redmond and her husband, Mark, of Skowhegan; eight nieces; and four nephews.