Raymond Edward Wilson

Raymond has been released from the bonds of this earth, and we wish him "fair winds and following seas" on his journey to the great ocean and AA Meetings in the sky!

His family knows that he is now with our Dear Lord, his beloved wife and the love of his life, Donna Jean Wilson (passed away May 2019), as well as his stepson Scott Schusted (passed away November 2023). He is also reunited with his mother Norine, his beloved grandmother (also Norine), two uncles and aunts, and baby daughter Melinda Ann Wilson.

Ray (Doc) was born on March 15, 1940, in Seattle, WA. He grew up between Seattle & Spokane. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. He made a career of the Navy, serving and traveling to various places all over the world.

He is eternally grateful to the Navy for saving his life by addressing and giving him treatment for his alcoholism and helping him get involved in his lifelong recovery program in Alcoholics Anonymous. That allowed him to become a functioning adult and continue to grow for the rest of his life. Through the "Good, Bad, and Ugly" of life, Ray felt mostly blessed with all the gifts he received. Along the way, Ray made numerous friends—too many to mention—but all were near and dear to him, sharing their recovery way of life with each other.

After his retirement from the Navy, Ray went back to school and worked in addiction treatment until his retirement from the State of Oregon. After that, he continued to volunteer in the addiction field as a way to continue giving back what was given to him.

Ray never let any moss grow under his shoes and loved to travel, especially to Hawaii to visit friends and enjoy the beauty of the "Islands"! He was able to travel to various wonderful places in the world, sharing his excitement with his significant others traveling with him.

Among many dear friends, Ray was grateful for his friends Lori and Ed, who shared his love of martial arts, instilling a workout ethic called "Geizer Karate." It was an ongoing workout and learning experience, sharing a passion which went on for a number of years.

Ray had a vast and unwavering capacity for love. It wasn’t easy. He was married more than once: first to Barbara Sue Anderson (they were very young), then Christy Ann Wilson. Nancy Thompson, who began the teaching of love. Although this marriage did not last, they remained friends throughout, for which Ray was very grateful, and they always tried to be good co-parents to their children.

Eventually, Ray was able to find stability and learn what true and unconditional love meant, with his beloved wife, Donna Jean Wilson. Their marriage lasted for 25 years before she passed away on May 19, 2019.

Along with his wife of 25 years, Ray loved all the pets they accumulated, caring for "people kitties" Molly and Jimmy. After Donna passed away, he maintained and cared for the garden and plants that Donna created, with the help of others, of course—as he had no green thumb.

Ray was loved by many and loved back. He will be missed tremendously. He saved many lives, helping each person in a special way. He always wanted to help others and give back, and he did this with complete humility and grace.

Ray is survived by his children: Charles Edward Wilson of Round Lake Beach, IL; Daniel Gene Wilson of Kenosha, WI; Christian James Wilson of Lawton, OK; Joseph Richard Trani of Salem, OR; Step-Daughter Andrea Erin Schusted of Keizer, OR; and “Brat” Katharine Marie Wilson of Keizer, OR. His grandchildren Rachael Wilson (Zerbe) of Lake Villa, IL; Alex Wilson of Chicago, IL; Kaylam Wilson of Rawlins, WY; Andre Wilson also of Rawlins, WY; and Autumn Gomoll and Hailey Gomoll, both of Keizer, OR. He is also survived by cousins James J. Larkin of Spokane, WA; Bruce Larkin of Dayton, WA; Kim Bland (Larkin) of Kennewick, WA; and his brother-in-law, Gary Lindberg and his wife Linda of Tucson, AZ.

Service Information:

For his 21 years in the Navy, he will be honored with a veteran's ceremony for his family and friends to help make his journey to the next phase of his life and to join his beloved Donna.

It will be at the Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, OR on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The arrival time will be 12:30pm and the service will start promptly at 1:00pm.