Raymond J. Smachetti Jr., 70, of Vernon, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at St. Francis Hospital.

Born in Hartford, the son of the late Raymond and Gertrude Smachetti, he grew up and lived in Manchester before moving to Vernon 35 years ago. He was a graduate of Drake College in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Class of 1968. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. Prior to his retirement in 1983, Raymond was the credit manager for the former Standard Educators Finance Co. in Manchester for over 18 years. He enjoyed golfing and was an avid bass fisherman. Raymond participated in many bass tournaments, and he won one of the state tournaments.

He is survived by his beloved sisters, Marjorie Reynolds of Broad Brook, and Mary Taylor, and her husband, Neil, of Ellington; two nieces, Teri Slavin, and her husband, James, and Linda Alex; three nephews, Robert Reynolds Jr., and his wife, Julie, Jason Taylor, and Cameron Taylor and his wife, Alison; and his best friend and companion, his dog, Josh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 2, 2014, at 10 a.m. at St. Luke Church, 141 Maple St., Ellington. Interment will follow in the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown, with military honors.

Memorial donations in his memory may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, Lee Hartell Danburn Chapter 25, 25 Segar St., Danbury, CT 06810.

Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home in Vernon is caring for the arrangements.

For online condolences and guestbook please visit

www.carmonfuneralhome.com

Published in Journal Inquirer from Apr. 30 to May 4, 2014