Raymond O. Cohen Jr., 72, passed away at home with his family byhis side on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, after a courageous battle withmelanoma.

Ray was born in New Orleans, La., on April 14, 1938, the son of thelate Raymond O. Sr. and Allie Case Cohen and was raised inBrookhaven. In 1962, Ray received a Bachelor of Science degree fromMississippi State University. On Aug. 3, 1963, Ray married theformer Shirley Love. The couple had just celebrated their 47thanniversary.

Ray’s professional career spanned 42 years in the insuranceindustry which began in 1962 as an adjuster for State FarmInsurance in Alabama. From 1967 until 1989, Ray was employed by St.Paul Insurance and he then transferred to Utica National InsuranceCompany, where he worked until his retirement in 2004.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, and all-around nice guy, Rayis survived by his wife, Shirley; his daughter and son-in-law, Bethand John Calogero, of Utica, N.Y.; his son and daughter-in-law,Raymond “Trey” O. III and Diana Cohen, of South Carolina; hisgranddaughter, Nicole Calogero; his stepgrandchildren, John andKatie Calogero; his sister and brother-in-law, Caroline and Ellis”Sonny” Passmore, of Mississippi; his sister-in-law andbrother-in-law, Peggy and Charley Little, of Georgia; his twonieces, Debbie and Fred Woolf and Jennifer Passmore; twogreat-nephews; and three great-nieces.

The family will receive visitors on Saturday from 5 until 7 p.m. atthe Matt Funeral Home, 700 Rutger Street, corner of Mohawk Street,Utica.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Hospice andPalliative Care Inc. or a charity of your choice.

Online memorials can be made at www.mattfuneralhome.com.