Frederick Raymond “Ray” Shanks passed away on July 26th, 2025, at the age of 93 after a full and beautiful life.

Born on June 11th, 1932, in Georgetown, Guyana, Ray immigrated to Canada in 1949 at the age of 17 and joined the Royal Canadian Navy as an Ordinary Seaman Radar Plotter. This gave him the opportunity to see the world, although he often reminisced about his favourite way of traveling, which was driving with his wife, Helen, and their children squeezed into the back of the vehicle and camping along the way.

Ray enjoyed many of life’s simple pleasures, such as drinking a cold libation, dining on a salubrious meal, reading a good western novel, and crafting many creative pieces that decorate the shelves, christmas trees, and window sills of his family and friends all over the world. After joining the Navy, Ray quickly found his passion in physical training and instruction and after one year at sea aboard the HMCS Magnificent, he became a certified Physical Training Instructor. In 1967, Ray attended Naval Preparatory School to become a commissioned naval officer and worked as a Base Physical Education and Recreation Officer (BPERO) for 12 years before taking on the role of Company Commander of the Canadian Forces Recruit School at CFB Cornwallis. Throughout this time, Ray was responsible for the physical training and testing of thousands of trainees, as well as hundreds of staff personnel before retiring in 1982.

Ray was an avid competitive boxer and was awarded many athletic achievements, including winning the Canadian Amateur Lightweight Boxing Championship in 1955, becoming a finalist in the Lightweight Division Boxing Trials for the Olympic Games in 1956, participating in the Canada Games in 1969, and finally being inducted to the Canadian Armed Forces Sports Hall of Fame Honour Roll in 1988.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Helen (Nauffts) Shanks, their six children Donna (Clifford) Boudreau, David (Gayle) Shanks, Deanna (Scott) Powell, Edward Archibald, Alan (Susan) Archibald, Ronald (Juanita) Archibald, his brother David (Winifred) Shanks, sisters Fidele (Rolf) Edelsward and Merle (Ken) Louden, and sister in law, Sheila Shanks, as well as eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Lorraine (Henry) Shanks, his parents, Ruby (CrumEwing) and Horace Shanks, and brothers Oswald Shanks, Patrick Shanks, and half-siblings, Eileen, Mavis and Jackie.

A Celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Monday August 11, 2025 from 2-4 p.m. at the Chester Legion, Branch #44. Interment will be at a later date.

Cheers to you, Ray; The Captain; Dad; Pops; Grandpa; you handsome devil. We know you don’t give a rat’s ass, but “Up the camel!

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SERVICES & GATHERINGS

Celebration of Life

Chester Legion Branch #44

August 11, 2025 2:00 pm

14 Union St Chester, Nova Scotia

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Service Note

A Celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Monday August 11, 2025 from 2-4 p.m. at the Chester Legion, Branch #44. Interment will be at a later date.