Raymond Michael Scollin, age 81, of Saranac Lake, died Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at his home, following a brief illness. He was surrounded by family and looking up Lower Saranac toward the Sister Islands, his favorite view.
Born in Saranac Lake on July 2, 1937, he was the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Sheridan) Scollin. Ray married the love of his life, Alice “Fuzzy” Wallace, on Dec. 21, 1956 in Saranac Lake.
Ray was a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served from 1956 to 1960. A lifelong resident of Saranac Lake, he worked for more than 30 years as a lineman for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. He also owned and operated Pinehurst Tree Farm. Ray was admired by his colleagues at Niagara Mohawk for his stubborn refusal to take any time off – until deer season each year, when he used all that accrued personal time to disappear into the woods for six straight weeks. He would come out of camp on his wife’s birthday, and again to vote on Election Day, but that was it. Ray was a brilliant problem solver, a patriot, a deeply religious family man, and a benevolent, unrepentant outlaw.
He is survived by his wife Alice "Fuzzy" Scollin of Saranac Lake; four children, Kathleen (Geoff) Percz of Ridge, New York; Raymond (Mary) Scollin of Saranac Lake; David (Megan) Scollin of Hixson, Tennessee; and Lynda (Ricky) Battistoni of Milton, Vermont; eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Joseph, and one sister, Margaret Kathleen Sawyer.
Funeral arrangements are in care of Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 22 at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake, with Fr. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery.
Friends wishing to remember Ray are invited to make memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.