Obituary of Raymond Joseph Vigeant, Sr.

Raymond Joseph Vigeant Sr., 87 of School Street, Putnam, died Monday at the Westview Nursing Center in Dayville; He was born March 19, 1918 in Worcester, MA son of the late Elzear and Mabel (Hervieux) Vigeant. He attended St Joseph's grammar school and high school in Worcester, MA, and attended 8 years of night school thru LaSalle Extension University for a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Raymond started with Shell Oil in 1934 as a yardman and in 1937 was appointed Division Auditor of New England Division. In 1940 he was appointed Division Auditor of the Mid-Atlantic States. In 1945, Ray joined the US Army as a Buck Private in the infantry division and after a short time was promoted to Technical Sergeant in the finance unit of the 2nd Army, 1262 Special Unit. He received an Honorable Discharge on July 29, 1946. Upon his return to civilian life, Ray returned to Shell Oil as Chief Clerk of Tax, Stock, and Pricing departments in Baltimore, MD. Ray maintained that classification until April, 1948, when he decided to leave Shell Oil to establish Western Petroleum in Quinebaug and Putnam Tire in Putnam. In 1952 Ray sold his business interests to Kenyon Oil (later Extra Mart), but continued to work in the Tire and Rubber field before taking employment with the State of Connecticut as a Tax Examiner I in 1967. Ray rapidly grew through the ranks to Field Audit Supervisor which specialized in gross earnings tax and fuel excise tax, and was responsible for taking in record amounts of revenue for the State of Connecticut during his tenure. He retired October 1, 1989. In 1991 Ray established himself as "The Tax Master" with private tax offices in Putnam and Woodstock. He sold his interest in the business in 2000, and spent more time on his two passions: Golf, and the Boston Red Sox. Ray is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marie A. (Barry) Vigeant of Putnam; three children: Raymond J. Vigeant Jr. and his wife Yvonne of Danielson; Annette Marie Hulefeld and her husband Frank of Chicago, IL; and Charles P. Vigeant of Lake Jackson, TX; a sister Irene Richard of South Grafton, MA. Ray also leaves a legacy to four grandchildren: Michael Alan Vigeant of Houston, TX, Suzanne Marie Lewis of Massapequa, NY; Thomas Mark Spitznagel of Vienna, VA; John Joseph Spitznagel of St. Louis, MO; and four great grandchildren: Daniel Scott Lewis and Sarah Victoria Lewis of Massapequa, NY; Nicholas John Spitznagel and Benjamin Thomas Spitznagel of St. Louis, MO. Ray was predeceased by three brothers: Norman Vigeant, Clarence Vigeant, and Roland Vigeant. We will all remember him as a kind, loving, and helpful man who loved life, and loved to have fun with those around him. On the golf course, Raymond never met another golfer he didn't like. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday at 10:30 AM in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence Street, Putnam. Burial will follow in the St. Mary Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Raymond's memory to ST Mary Church or ST Mary School, 218 Providence Street, Putnam, CT 06260. To share a memory with the family, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com