1927 – 2014

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Raymond Canwell Buckley, 86, a longtime resident of Lansing, N.Y., and a former resident of Leeds, went to join his loving wife, Dorothy, on Sunday, Nov. 2. Both had resided at Highlands Living Center in Pittsford, N.Y., for the past year.

He was born the third of three sons to Gladys Mabel (Canwell) Buckley and Guy Gilbert Buckley on Dec. 9, 1927, in Leeds. His brother, Russell, passed away on Dec. 20, 1999, at the age of 81, and Ralph “Gib” passed away on June 26, 2005, at the age of 82.

Dorothy Chateauvert’s sister-in-law, Doris Ann, introduced Ray and Dot at a dance hall. They were married on Oct. 8, 1948, and had four children: Raema, Lorna (married to Gary), Shaun (married to Kathy) and Anissa. Raema has three children, Christopher, Cory and Kelly; Lorna has three children, Lindsay, Ashley and Justin; Shaun has a daughter, Christina; and there are several great-grandchildren, Joey and Sophie (Christopher), Haley and Jacob (Cory) and Emma and Nathan (Kelly).

Ray graduated from the Leavitt Institute in June 1945, and went on to Bates College, from which he graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in education. During his college years, Ray was drafted into the U.S. Army for one and a half years.

Upon graduation from Bates, Ray took a teaching position as a fifth-grade teacher in Parish, N.Y. He also taught and became a principal in New Paltz, N.Y. Ray attended Syracuse University, earning his master’s degree in education in 1953. He moved to Lansing to be superintendent of Lansing Central Schools, which he served for 31 years, retiring in 1992.

Upon Ray’s retirement, the Board of Education renamed the elementary school the R.C. Buckley Elementary School in his honor. He spent 42 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent. In retirement, Ray tutored kids in math and did taxes for people at no cost.

Ray was a member of Asylum No. 133 Masonic Lodge in Leeds for 65 years and a member of the Lions for 55 years, and served as president of the Lions in New Paltz and Lansing, N.Y. Lions International presented Ray with the Melvin P. Jones Award for his dedicated service. Ray was a member of Lansing United Methodist Church and was the first trustee named as trustee emeritus for his 44 years of service. Ray was also a member of the Tompkins Trust NE Advisory Committee.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.