Ray Auldon Bryson

RIP Ray Auldon Bryson, born 4 July 1930 in Los Angeles, CA. Raised in Bakersfield, CA, graduated Bakersfield High School in 1949, University of Redlands in 1953, Berkeley Seminary in 1956. Resident of Laguna Beach for 56 years. Died 20 February 2022 after moving to Escondido, CA in February 2021.

Wed his wife, Ruth Charlene (Cain) Bryson, on 7 June 1953 in Redlands, CA. They shared their lives for over 68 years.

Ray was an ordained American Baptist minister, married his three children, four of his grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends. But his career was as a teacher, including thirty years teaching Social Studies at Horace Ensign Junior High in Newport Beach, CA, before retiring in 1992 and then subbing for years thereafter.

His greatest loves included his family and friends, being a member of South Shores Church for nearly sixty years, telling enthralling stories, eating (a lot), fixating on everything Danish, taking cruises with his wife and offspring, meeting new friends along the way, working on dozens of scrapbooks of his journeys, his ocean view from his long-time Laguna Beach hillside house, being a “living model” in the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters, and listening to the “holy trinity” of classical music: Wagner, Beethoven, and Verdi.

He is best remembered for those spellbinding stories (many personalized versions of E.A. Poe stories), his weird sense of humor, and perhaps the worst fashion sense in the history of the planet. Witness his loud and clashing ties, shirts, and “trousers”.

Preceded in death by mother LaRue, stepmother Sylvia, father Auldon, and brother Ronnie.

Survived by his wife, three children and spouses (Richard & Uldine Bryson, Kathryn & Fred Adams, Randal & Teresa Bryson) seven grandchildren (Alysa, Nathan, Karen, Steven, Angeline, Peter, Dianna), four great-grandchildren (Jackson, Wesley, Evelyn, Xander), and two brothers (Joe, Dax).

We love you, expect you to prepare a place for all of us to join you in heaven,

--Your loving family.