When the toll of alcoholism became too much, my sweet brother Ray, found peace the night of August 12, 2023.
Born in Ohio, he was just 14 years old when, in 1963, our parents transplanted us from Pittsfield, Ohio, to Boulder, Colorado, where he attended Boulder High School and received his Mechanics Certification from Boulder Valley VoTech. Ray was a free spirit and enjoyed living all around the Western United States but always considered the mountains of the Boulder area as home base. Canon City, Colorado, was his last stop and he enjoyed the area very much. Although Ray lived an uncomplicated, simple life, it was full of adventure and if you ever stopped by his humble abode he just might have treated you to a recollection or two.
Ray loved cars and motorcycles and was a mechanic from his teenage years until he retired in 2009. Two of Ray’s favorite pastimes were restoring old cars and motorcycles, and building model cars and motorcycles. He also loved animals, especially cats, and they loved him. In fact, animals just seemed to adopt him.
To relax after a hard day of turning wrenches, and on into his retirement years, Ray enjoyed watching the old Westerns on television and even reenacting old west characters like Buffalo Bill during events such as the Madam Lou Bunch Day in Central City. Ray was sometimes mistaken for Willie Nelson but, with a twinkle in his eye, he would assure all that his initials were not W. N.
He is preceded in death by his older brother Charles, his father William and his mother Marjorie. Ray is survived by his sister, Judy, who will be missing her big brother for the rest of her life.
Donations to or adoptions from your favorite animal shelter in Ray’s name would be appreciated and please, if you are fighting an addiction, get help and get it gone from your life.
Happy trails my Blue Eyed Dragonfly, see you on the other side.
