Raymond W. Connery

HOUSTON, MINN. - Raymond W. "Ray" Connery, 88, of Houston, died on Friday, March 30, 2007, at Gundersen - Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Ray was born on October 12, 1918, in Elgin, Illinois to William and Mary (Beckmann) Connery. He was raised in Elgin on a dairy farm and graduated from Elgin High School. On November 11, 1941, Ray married Lenore Hickey at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Elgin. He worked for DeLaval Separator Company his entire career. He was manager at the DeLaval store in Elgin and Hampshire Ill. Ray opened a DeLaval store in Oolagah, Oklahoma. He then transferred to Poughkeepsie, New York as a Contract Equipment Manager. Ray later returned to Elgin, Illinois working as the Export Manager in the DeLaval Chicago Office. He retired from DeLaval in 1982, when he moved to Houston, Minn. During his retirement Ray worked at Montgomery Wards in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Houston. Ray served the church in many capacities as a Eucharist Minister, sacristan, usher, custodian, past council president, and recipient of the Diocese of Winona Bishops Award, a Forth Degree Knight of Columbus and Past Grand Knight of Elgin Council 654.Ray was a lifelong member of Farm Bureau and was treasurer for Houston Township for 14 years. Ray is survived by his wife Lenore; a son, Laurence (Judy) Connery of Houston, Minn.; a daughter, Kathleen (William) Webb of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; a daughter-in-law: Deborah Connery of Rochester Hills, Michigan; four grandchildren: Patricia, Shawn, Brendan, and Devin; three great-grandchildren: Taylor, Trevor, and Georgia; and a brother, Monty Connery of California. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Robert, one sister, and two brothers. There will be a Funeral Mass for Ray at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 2, 2007,at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Houston with the Rev. Joseph Pete officiating. Burial will be in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Monday, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Houston. The family would like memorials to be directed to the St. Mary's Church Building Fund or to the donor's choice. Ray's family would like to thank the staff at Valley View Nursing Home in Houston and at Gundersen - Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse especially 4 Center for all of the wonderful care he received through his illness. Hoff Funeral Homes - Houston Chapel is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Please feel free to sign the online guestbook and leave a memory of Ray at www.hofffuneral.com