Born: December 19, 1905
Died: August 22, 2000
Married: Agnes Dorothy Gero
Children: Ronald E. McCasland, James R. McCasland, Carolyn T. LaDuke, Elaine M. Cahen
Raymond McCasland was the proprietor of McCasland's Upholstery and Carpeting with his brother Harold and with his wife Agnes operated a farm (now Moonstone Farm).
Saranac Lake — Raymond E. McCasland, age 94, of Bloomingdale Road in Saranac Lake, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000, at the Adirondack Medical Center.
Born in Clintonville on Dec. 19, 1905, he was the son of Walter and Evelyn (Santo) McCasland.
He married Agnes Dorothy Gero on Aug. 10, 1933, at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. She predeceased him on Aug. 4, 1999.
He was employed for several years at Branch and Callahan in Saranac Lake. In the early 1940’s, he went to work at Fred Gero’s Upholstery in Saranac Lake. From the late 1940’s to the late 1960’s, he owned and operated McCasland’s Upholstery
He was past president of the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club, where he was a member of the rifle team and had won several awards. For many years Mr. McCasland helped the Mothers Club in Saranac Lake build their float for the Winter Carnival Parade.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Mr. McCalsand taught the hunter safety course at the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club for several years. He also taught upholstery class in Saranac Lake.
He is survived by two sons, Ronald E. McCasland of Saranac Lake and James R. McCasland of Sandy, Utah; two daughters, Carolyn T. LaDuke of Saranac Lake and Elaine M. Cahen of Greenwich; 15 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Cleophas McCasland, Harold McCasland and Kenneth McCasland; and one sister, Dorothy McLaughlin.
Calling hours will be at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 25, 2000, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Bible vigil service will be held Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2000, at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake.
Friends wishing to remember Raymond E. McCasland may make memorial contributions to St. Bernard’s School in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home
Ray bought a farm (Moonstone Farm) in 1966 at the age of 61 that he had dreamed of purchasing since 18 or 19.
"He just loved it," Carolyn (his daughter) said. "He loved sitting out on the porch."
An upholster by trade, he found time for flowers and gardens and kept working until age 86.
"Even then, he had the sewing machine in his bedroom," Carolyn said.1
