Raymond Melvin Kyllonen

Raymond Melvin Kyllonen, son of Melvin and Helen Kyllonen, was born on June 16, 1940, in Belton, North Dakota. He went to be with Jesus on Friday, October 25, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri at the age of eighty-four years, four months, and ten days.

Raymond graduated high school from Lisborn, New York, and went on to play college basketball in Indiana. After college, he joined the army where he served three years in Thailand. Raymond retired from Morrison Knudsen after thirty-five years, where he was the maintenance supervisor over equipment in the mining division which mined gold, silver, and coal. Raymond married the love of his life, Shirley (Miller) in 1994. He was saved at the age of forty and was a faithful member at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church until the time of his death. He was a faithful Skyline Tigers fan and there were not many games that he did not attend.

Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, a sister, Marcie Henderson, and a brother, Mickey Kyllonen.

He is survived by his wife of thirty years, eight children: five children from his first marriage to Linda Wood, and three children from his second marriage to Shirley Miller; Togi Kyllonen, Kim Kyllonen, Jerry Nash, Rance (Judy) Nash, and Rockett (Lewis) Leen. Shawna Miller (Brian), Michelle Lightfoot, and Michael Miller (Amelia); twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; a sister, Loraine (Larry) Langley; a brother, Kelly (Lily) Kyllonen; a brother-in-law, Ronnie Henderson; a sister-in-law, Sharon (Jerold) Looney; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends that will greatly miss him. Raymond was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories he created for them during his eighty-four years.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024, with visitation from 10-11 am and the formal service beginning at 11 am the Cantlon Otterness & Viets Funeral Home in Urbana, Missouri with Bro. Kip Baker officiating, pallbearers will be Zackery Lightfoot, Trevor Russell, Jared Hogue, Wyatt Jones, Mike Owens, and Mike Payne. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Corry, Paul Gregg, Brent Formy-Duval, Ronnie Henderson, Larry Langley, Jerold Looney, and Buddy Hyde. Burial will be at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Cemetery following the funeral.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cantlon-Otterness & Viets Funeral Home, Urbana, Missouri.