Obituary of Raymond Hampson

Mr. Raymond Hampson, 69, of Ridge Rd., Broadalbin, died Wednesday May 14, 2008 at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam. He was born on July 11, 1938 in Amsterdam, NY. He is a son of Dorothy and Ken Hampson and Mary and Anthony Fusella. He was a lifelong Amsterdam area resident attended local schools. Ray was self-employed as a carpet installer and it is a widely held belief that he carpeted, vinyl-ed, and/or tiled most of the homes and businesses from Fulton/Montgomery counties to Saratoga County. A true outdoorsman, Ray was active all seasons of the year. He was an avid horseman, in showing and in Gymkhana. He helped his fellow farmer-neighbors work in their fields on the hottest of summer days. His CB radio handle was "Haymaker". In winter, he hunted and raced snowmobiles when he wasn't out snow-plowing during the blusteriest of winter storms. The best evidence of Ray's love for the outdoors was in the way he carefully and consistently tended to his own yard, making it a place where children of all ages loved to go and play. Each year, on the 4th of July, Ray put on a fireworks display that made him locally famous. Ray and his son, Ray Jr., began scouting with Galway's Troop 5 in 1989. Ray loved and supported this troop for nearly 20 years. He actively participated in their many camp-outs, potato-picking outings, tree-bagging and popcorn-selling fundraisers. Ray organized and led the scouts' recycling bottle drives for many years. He was a cub master from 1999-2000. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in 1996, an honor he shared with his son, that same year. For his daughters, Ray is the gold standard. He was a sausage sandwich connoisseur, his favorites being from Turk's, Carm's and Cronie's. Most notably, Ray was a friend to anyone that ever met him. "No" wasn't a word in his vocabulary, because "no" wasn't in his heart. He married the former Phyllis Torani on September 15, 1979. He Ray was predeceased by his parents: Ken Hampson of Greenbelt, MD and Mary & Anthony Fusella, of Amsterdam, NY. In addition to his wife Phyllis K. Hampson survivor's include his mother Dorothy Hampson of Virginia; one son, Raymond Hampson, Jr. and his wife Jennifer of Schaghticoke, NY. Three daughters, Holly Jean Angley and her husband Joe of Troy, NY. Melissa Greco of Saratoga Springs, NY and Laura Greco Follo of Ganesvoort, NY. Two brothers, Richard Hampson and his wife Adele of Maryland, Michael Fusella and his wife Louise of New Jersey. Three sisters, Barbara Lutsic and her husband Michael of Virginia, Roberta Cartier of Florida and Marilyn Ault of Amsterdam. Six grandchildren, Gianna, Mallory, Dakota, Sydney, Emily and Anthony. Nieces, Nephews and cousins also survive. The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday May 17th, 2008 from 3:00 to 7:00P.M. at the Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY where all are encouraged to share their memories and stories of Ray. In lieu of flowers the family request's that memorial contributions be made to a special fund that will benefit the Boy Scouts Troop and Pack #5 of Galway, NY. Please make your contributions payable to Raymond Hampson Jr. or cash c/o the Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Family Funeral Home