Kinston, NC - Raymond Clyde Fickes, 60, of Dogwood Lane, passed away Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, North Carolina after battling a lengthy illness.

Born August 16, 1954, he is a son of JoAnn Fickes of East Liverpool, Ohio and the late Harold E. Fickes. He was raised in East Liverpool. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kinston First Ward, he was an avid reader and loved to watch sports, especially Ohio State University. Ray will be remembered as a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.

He was married on his birthday, August 16, 1986 to Gaylene S. Porter from Niles, Ohio. They were married for 28 years. He graduated in 1972 from East Liverpool High School and in 1976 from The Ohio State University with a degree in Education. He taught in East Liverpool and in Texas. He also attended Youngstown State University and in 1986 received a Masters Degree in Library Science from Clarion University.

After marriage he and his family relocated to Kinston and have resided there for the past 28 years. He was the librarian at the Caswell Development Center and was retired as a Special Education Teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Gaylene Porter Fickes at home; one daughter, Amber Elizabeth Fickes and his granddaughter, Chloe Anne Watkins of Kinston; one brother, Donald E. Fickes and wife, Debbie L. Callen Fickes of East Liverpool.

He leaves behind nieces and nephews, Jennifer and Dustin Tedrow, and Nicole Fickes and her companion, Chas Boots and their son, Brentlee Boots.; brother and sister-in-laws from the Niles/Warren area, Christy and Vickie Porter, Darla Dutta, Valerie Swiger, and Bob & Shelly Teagarden and their immediate families.

Ray wanted to honor special friends, J.D. Gauron and his fellow ELHS Alumni in East Liverpool; Alan Lockwood of East Liverpool; Clifton Kirby; Kathy and Eddie Gray; Kimberly and Josh Fien; and Dorcas Lindsey and her late husband, Larry.

Besides his father, who passed away on February 15, 2010, Ray was also preceded in death by an unborn son, Raymond Clyde Fickes II on December 10, 1988.

Friends may visit Sunday from Noon to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Dawson Funeral Home in East Liverpool.

Reverend Steve Forsythe of the 1st Free Methodist Church will conduct a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2015 at the funeral home.

Burial will be near his father at the Yellow Creek Cemetery in Wellsville, Ohio.