Raymond James Mcelhinny Sr.

Raymond James McElhinny Sr., 97, of Linesville, passed away, peacefully on Monday, June 23, 2014, surrounded by family at his daughter Canice’s residence in Mercer.

Born December 3, 1916, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Perry and Margaret Blank McElhinny.  He married Mary J.(Jay) Pecora on June 12, 1940 at St. Mary’s Church in Homestead; she preceded him in death on December 20, 2004.

He served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was in the Seabees in Hawaii.  In his younger years he worked in several Steel Mills and Coal Mines in Homestead and Pittsburgh.  He was a union carpenter and retired after over forty years of working in the local area.

Raymond was a member of St. Philip Roman Catholic Church in Linesville and a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6037.  He was an avid Steelers fan and was known to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he cherished, as Gramps.

Survivors include seven children, Canice Dempsey and her husband, Ronald, of Mercer, Raymond J. McElhinny Jr. and his wife, Janet, of Greensboro, North Carolina, Alexis J. Steveson of Avis, Gary J. McElhinny and his wife, Nancy, of Butler, Kim G. McElhinny and his wife, Michelle, of Lakeview, Michigan, R. Shaun McElhinny of Linesville, and Damian J. McElhinny and his wife, Terri, of Iron Mountain, Michigan; 32 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary J. (Jay) McElhinny; a son Perry M. McElhinny; two sisters; and four brothers.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U.S. Highway 6, Linesville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Philip Roman Catholic Church, 401 S. Mercer St., Linesville, with Father Chris Hamlett as celebrant.

Burial with full military honors provided by Huidekoper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006 will be in St. Philip Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Linesville Food Pantry, in care of St. Philip Church, 401 S. Mercer St., Linesville, Pa 16424 or the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, 1128 State St., Suite 301, Erie, Pa 16501.