Raymond Anthony Sargent

Raymond Anthony Sargent was born to Josephine (Josie) and N. Victor Sargent on January 21,1928. Not long afterward, life threw Josie and Ray a curve ball as Victor ran off leaving them to fend for themselves in the great depression. Josie, with toddler Ray in tow made her way home to her parents farm in South Tacoma where Ray would spend his childhood raised on a dairy farm with his grandparents while Josie worked hard to provide for her son. Maybe it was the relationship he had with the men who stuck around; his grandpa and uncles that showedRay how to live and later become such a great dad and grandpa himself. Ray learned how to work hard from the beginning and had a great deal of love and respect for his mother whom he would become the primary care giver of for a large portion of his life. Ray always spoke fondly of life on the farm, waking early to do his chores before school, because helping his family in anyway he could was a natural part of his personality. After graduating from Bellarmine High School in 1946 he was drafted in the Army and sent off to Korea where he luckily steered clear of combat and ended up with his trade paid for by Uncle Sam. Ray was a diesel mechanic and truly loved his trade. After a few years on a tug boat and other apprenticeships he landed at RW Rhine Demolition for many years. He certainly spoke of working on backhoes and cranes but what I remember most is the names of the friends he made. Luke and John Bishop, Chuck and Jim are names I heard a million times. Ray always had a joke about some situation that went wrong and the man could laugh at anything for as he was so fond of saying " It ain't bad once you make up your mind." He was well loved and I imagine added a certain levity to the work environment. Ray always made friends easily and his humor and penchant for practical jokes kept the friendships of hisadolescenceand early adulthood alive in his mind long after many of his pals passed on. But it is not the ability to keep long term friendships that most amazed me, it was that he continued to make incredible bonds and enduring friendships till the very end of his life, and most of the time these friendships were, lets say, unusual pairings. The community that Ray was surrounded with at the end of his life consisted mainly of women and men in the prime of their life; their 20's and 30's whom he'd met at his favorite restaurant Luna Park Cafe. He talked a lot about the girls (waitstaff) down at Luna Park and I would think Aw Geez he's down there driving them all crazy with the same stories and jokes a hundred times. But what I have had the great pleasure of learning is that he was a vibrant part of the scene and not only did all the waitresses and cooks love him but all the other regular customers too. They were drawn together around Ray and would ask where he was if he'd been away too long. When Ray had a heart attack last fall the outpouring of love and concern from everyone at Luna stunned me and showed me how important my dad was to everyone who knew him. And then with his cancer diagnosis the most incredible gift was given to my family, Sharon Duncan rallied all of the employees and regular customers to throw a party for Ray. It was incredible with 30 or so people gathering to honor my dad like a living memorial. They told stories and shared memories and of course talked about the jokes they pulled on each other which is the glue that bonds you to my dad! It is what any of us would want to have people tell you what you mean to them and how you've touched their lives while your still alive to hear it and I was so honored to be a witness to the love these people I barely knew have for my father. Ray died peacefully at home on August 18, 2012 with his family surrounding him. I had my hand on his heart as he passed. I felt his last breath and it was an inhale; a breath into a new life where old friendships are reunited and new ones are bound to be made. I could list names of the surviving members of his family here but the truth is Raykept finding his tribe well into his eighties and was a vibrant part of the tribe till the very end! So I say everyone who knew him is a surviving member of Ray's family because the love he shared was too big for one gene pool. And anyone who shared coffee, dinner, or a joke with Ray was part of his family. There will be a time of visitation and viewing on Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home 6701 30th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98126.There will also be a time of viewing on Friday August 31, 2012 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm followed by a funeral service at 1:00pm with interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery at 2:00pm. A brief reception will be immediately following the graveside service. You've shown me how to live dad, I am so proud of the man you were and always will be. I am honored my two sons got to see how to be a generous, kind, compassionate and funny man while working hard at what you love doing and most importantly, they saw how to be a best friend to everyone. Now fly away home dad, fly away home.