Roray Sandau

Ray was born in Beulah, N. Dakota, the youngest of three children, to Emil Sandau and Amelia (Buechler) Sandau. The family moved to Oregon when he was a child. He went to the Salem public schools and graduated from Salem High School in 1948.

Immediately after graduation he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific area. He was honorably discharged in 1953.

He went to work at Thomas Kay Woolen Mill where he met the love of his life, Wyona Derksen. They married on November 20, 1954.

Ray attended Barber School and owned a small barber shop in the Keizer Plaza and later in the Fred Meyer Shopping Center. After that, and until he retired, he worked as a steel fabricator.

His greatest pleasures were fishing and hunting with his family. Wanting Dad to be with them, his sons were able to take him to his favorite hunting spot in Eastern Oregon. They were home only a few days when he passed away.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Frieda Byers and LaVonne King; and son, Jim Sandau.

He leaves behind his devoted wife of nearly 57 years, Wyona Sandau; his son, Darwin Sandau; daughter, Debra Mathae and her husband Paul; son, Dan Sandau and his wife Marlene; daughter, Dena Al-Awaj and her husband Jamal; 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, at 1525 Glen Creek Rd., in West Salem on November 11, 2011 with a reception following the service. Please bring memories and stories.