Raymond “Ray” J. Vander Wey went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 22, 2016. Raymond was born on April 7, 1941 to John and Jennie Vander Wey in Oosterbierum, Friesland in the Netherlands.
Raymond grew up farming with his parents in the Netherlands until 1954, at which time his parents moved with their children to Newton, NJ to continue farming. They farmed in Newton, later in Chester, until eventually the family moved to a farm in Layfayette, NJ.
It was in Layfayette that Raymond met and later married Linda Viersma through church family. They were married on December 4, 1965. They continued to farm in Layfayette with Raymond’s parents until he took over the farm operations from his father in 1972. In March 1976, Raymond and Linda, with three of their children, moved the entire farm operations to Ferrisburgh, VT. Two more children joined the family, while Raymond and Linda continued to grow and expand the family farm.
Raymond was an avid farmer, always caring for the land and everything on it. Raymond cared for his cows and the milk they produced. Over the years, Raymond’s cows helped him earn many milk production awards beginning in New Jersey in 1972 and continuing following the move to Ferrisburgh. Raymond’s love and care for the land earned him VT Dairy Farm of the Year in 2000. Raymond also earned Dairy of Distinction for many years.
Raymond loved his Lord and his family, always encouraging them to have faith in the Lord as well. He was a member of the New Haven United Reformed Church. He served on the school board for the Champlain Valley Christian School for several years while his children attended the school.
Raymond leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Linda. He leaves behind his daughter, Wilma Vander Wey and significant other Shawn Beeman of Whiting; son, John and Vicki, with their five children, Britany, Alyka and Jeremy Kelly, Shawnna, Raymond, and Brianna, and three grandchildren Rylan, Audrey, and Noela of Ferrisburgh; son, Howard, and his children, Mikayla and Howie of Ferrisburgh; daughter, Jennie Whitney and Steven, and their children, Savannah and Lilly of Middlebury; and son, Sidney and Jennifer and their children, Holland and Greyson of Ferrisburgh.
Raymond also leaves behind his five sisters, Ann and Sidney Dykema of Addison; Tina and Arie VanderGroef of Richfield Springs, NY; Alida and Case Schipper of Layfayette, NJ; Hilda Tallman of Charlotte; and Trudy Vander Wey of Addison. He leaves his brothers- and sisters- in-laws, Wiebe and Ann Viersma of Gettysburg, PA; Robert and Theresa Viersma of Andover, NJ; and Hotske Van Netten of Gaastmeer, Netherlands. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Raymond was predeceased by his parents.
The family would like to sincerely thank Addison County Home Health and Hospice for all of their support and care they gave to Raymond during the last several months.
Funeral services were held at Victory Baptist Church on Wednesday December 28, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Tim Taylor of Victory Baptist Church and Pastor Andrew Knott of New Haven United Reformed Church officiated the service. Burial was at Gage Cemetery in Ferrisburgh.