Elizabeth Ann Wray

She was born October 4, 1953 in West Covina, California, the first of three children

born to Bernard James Johnson and Mary (Ingraham) Johnson.

Beth, as she was known, with her family moved to Altadena, California where she

attended St. Elizabeth’s School and as a high school freshman, had the distinction of

riding the “first bus” in the nation’s busing program, which took her to John Muir

High in South Pasadena. She then headed to Humboldt State where she majored in

Forestry and then transferred to Cal State Chico where she received her Bachelor’s of

Science as a Recreation Major. She then became a Park Ranger. She started working

in Yellowstone National Park, before ending up in Northern California, first at Bidwell

Mansion and then at Woodson Bridge and Ide Adobe park, here in Red Bluff.

It was here, in Red Bluff, where she met Christen Philip Wray, known as Chris, at a

mutual friend’s home for dinner. After their first date, fishing the Sacramento River by

boat out of the Mill Creek Park boat ramp, they realized they had something special. It

was just 6 months later they were married at Beth’s childhood church in Pasadena at

St. Elizabeth’s. Beth and Chris had 2 daughters that they raised on the banks of the

Sacramento River in Tehama, California.

Beth loved being active and she was! She was involved in her daughters’ Catholic

education, participating with fund-raising, and enrollment development at Sacred

Heart Elementary and Mercy High School. She also worked at Tehama County Public

Health. She was an avid tennis player, playing and traveling with a wonderful group

of women. Her book club, the Red Bluff Readers, was a place of laughter and reading,

both pastimes Beth loved very much. Beth was an ardent SF Giants fan, watching on

TV or at Oracle Park. She enjoyed boating with Chris on the Sacramento River and in

the San Francisco Bay. They traveled throughout California and beyond on Nordic

Tugs, silver Airstreams, sailboats and campers to be with friends and family.

Elizabeth was a devoted wife and mother, a marvelous cook, a warm hostess, a canny

cribbage player, a beautiful quilter and a delightful practical joker. She enjoyed hiking

in the grand vistas of Northern California with her friends, family and dogs. She was

known for her generous spirit and delicious roasted chicken. Beth was beloved and

will be missed by many.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Christen Philip Wray of Red Bluff, her

daughters, Lauren Elizabeth Wray of Los Angeles and Kirsten Clausen Wray of Chico,

her brothers Mark Christopher Johnson of Carpentaria and Philip Bernard Johnson of

Tiburon, California and their spouses, children and grandchildren.