Raymond McCaslin's Obituary
Raymond Cordell “Mac” McCaslin, passed away on June 3, 2026, at Novant Health Huntersville while surrounded by his close family.
Mac was born on March 26, 1938 in Warren, Ohio to the late George and Alene (Webber) McCaslin. He grew up in Warren, graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in January of 1956, and attended Ohio Northern University until enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1957, where he served at Parris Island, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, and Okinawa, Japan. When his service was completed in 1963, he continued his higher education while working in aluminum mills in the Pacific Northwest. He ultimately received a bachelor's in sociology from University of Washington and a master’s in sociology from Washington State. He then attended Vanderbilt University to begin work on his Ph.D. until he met his future wife, Gail Patricia (Durner) McCaslin, at Sky Lake Camp in Georgia where they were both counselors.
After marrying Gail on September 13, 1969, he moved to Athens, Alabama where he worked as a sociology professor at Athens State College and Emergency Services Coordinator at North Central Alabama Mental Health Center. In 1978, they moved to Hendersonville, NC where he started his career as a social worker and mental health counselor at Trend Mental Health. After retiring from Trend in 2001, he worked part time at the Hendersonville YMCA.
Mac’s passion was animals, and he and Gail volunteered extensively at Community Partnership for Pets, spending countless hours organizing spay and neuter clinics and helping with rescues and adoptions. He also was an avid runner, running in over 80 marathons and several ultra marathons. He is remembered for his strength, perseverance, dry sense of humor, and the loving of all humans.
In addition to his parents, Mac was preceded in death by his wife, Gail; and his siblings, George Jr, Coleen, Carol, and Robert. He is survived by his two sons, Patrick and Raymond "Shawn;" and his three grandchildren, Claire, Mary Pat, and Abby.
A celebration of life will be held at the Park at Flat Rock, in Flat Rock, NC at a future date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Community Partnership for Pets (https://communitypartnershipforpets.org/).
James Funeral Home, of Huntersville, is serving the family and obituary lovingly written by the family.
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