Raymond Anthony Menzia

Ray Menzia, 79, passed away peacefully at his home February 5, 2018. He was born October 26, 1938 to Conrad and Frances Menzia in Prosser, WA. Ray led a lively childhood alongside his other 16 brothers and sisters. He learned the value of hard work, sharing, and the simple joys of life. He told many stories of the adventures and hair-brained schemes he had with friends and sibling during his childhood years. In typical boy fashion, it’s a wonder he survived some of them!

Directly after high school, Ray attended college, where he met his future bride, Annette Nelson, on a blind date. Less than a year later they eloped and their great adventure of love began. After finishing college, Ray and Annette spent the next few years adding to their family by adopting Todd, Meaghan, and Conrad.

Ray graduated with a teaching degree and taught at various schools, including 2 years in Australia, before settling down in the West Valley School District. In the summers he worked as a surveyor for the Naches Forest Service. He loved working in his pear orchard, camping, telling stories, playing with his children (even the neighborhood kids wanted him to come out and play), and being a jokester. His true passion was coaching, which his wife also shared. He coached numerous sports but cross country and track and field were his absolute favorites. In 1980 he and Annette formed the West Yakima Ramblers track club and ran it for 18 years. Ray believed strongly in women’s equality and in the 1980’s he pushed for girls to become pole vaulters and started training them in the track club. He was also instrumental in getting the steeple chase race into the track program at Eisenhower.

Ray was born with a zeal for life and a fun loving spirit. He and Annette loved to be around children of all ages and were a source of encouragement for hundreds of student and athletes. He will best be remembered by his family as a loving, encouraging, and tirelessly hardworking person who had an extraordinary gift for bad puns and practical jokes.

He is survived in death by daughter Meaghan, son Conrad, step daughter Cathy, sisters Teresa, Rosemary and Frances, brothers Jack and Joe, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Annette, son Todd, and 11 of his siblings.

The family would like to thank Highgate Senior Living for taking such good care of Ray and always treating him with respect, kindness, and patience while he battled his last few years with Alzheimer’s.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Harman Center located at 101 N. 65th Ave., Yakima, WA 98908.

In lieu of flowers the family would like you to consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. To share a memory of Ray visit www.keithandkeith.com.