October 20, 1925 – May 7, 2021
Ray was born to Janet and Elmer Hare in Portland, Oregon on October 20, 1925 with his peaceful passing May 7, 2021 at “A Place to Call Home” of Tigard, Oregon, where he has happily resided for the past three years, Ray was 95.
As an only child and a product of divorce (1927) Ray was raised with his beloved Mother and Charles “Pop” Moore, the only Father he ever knew. Ray was raised as “Merrill Raymond Moore” until in 1943 at 18 when he joined the Army Air Corps (Air Force) where he was informed his legal name was “Raymond Merrill Hare”.
A true Oregonian most of his life Ray stayed in the Portland and Beaverton areas with a short time living in Wheeler, Oregon. Summers were spent in Mayville in Central Oregon.
Ray had a love for traveling that began in the service and took him all over the world. He was known for all the amazing pictures that no one ever saw since they were all on slides, graduating to video cameras again, never seen! Pictures of castles everywhere he traveled from the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany (his favorite) to Epcot Disney World which also sparked a love of food along with a good mocha!
A Bombardier A/C Ray had flying in his blood through the service and beyond with hot air balloons, gliders, helicopters and bi-planes, he truly loved to fly with details kept close in his memories until the end. Ray even delivered a plane full of penguins to the San Diego Zoo.
Ray was also very involved with the Portland Jaycees and the belief in leadership training, community service and social fellowship led Ray to oversee the Portland Pageant Franchise (Portland Metropolitan Pageant) judging local pageants and later becoming a State Field Director for the Miss Oregon Pageant, an accomplishment Ray was very proud of. Ray never missed the Miss America Pageant and judged it like he was there in person!
Ray was a very proud and staunch republican his entire life and defended his beliefs until the end.
A proud member of “Portland Triumph Owners Association” he loved touring in his1958 Red TR3 with his multicolored tam on, it was never about the speed but seeing the sights and being with friends.
The Grand Prix of Portland held at the Portland International Raceway every September is where you would find Ray as a “spotter” for many years. In the last few years Ray was treated to seeing the Winter Wonderland Lights at PIR, a kid at heart and a highlight in his later years.
Another lifelong love of trains began early from small to large, with his favorites being Z scale 3/8” and N scale 1/2”. Dad was a member of the “Portland Area N Trak” a Pacific Model Railroad which was housed at Dairyville Village of Alpenrose Dairy.
As a youngster Ray delivered the Oregonian on his bicycle which is how he met his first wife at 14. Ray and Betty-lou married in June of 1945, both were nineteen and had three children together, divorcing (1966) they remained lifelong friends.
Ray graduated early from Washington High School to enter the Army Air Corps and was an Aviation Cadet in the last group during WWII (1945) to be called up in the United States. Active duty began in November of 1943 for Ray with an honorable discharge, 20 years in the Portland Reserves, 7 being active, Ray retired as a Major in 1985. Ray was a lifetime member of “Reserve Officers Association of the United States”. On his GI bill and the ROTC program at Oregon State College (OSU) Ray immediately converted to Fighter Inceptors and graduated in 1950 from OSU with a Business and Technology degree, an Acacia Fraternity member Dad was a true Beaver Fan and only watched their sports.
Ray began working at Hyster Company in the early 1950’s, after a few years moving to Tektronix where he was a Pricing & Accounting Coordinator until his retirement in 1991.
Ray was blessed with two loves, two families. Ray and Alix (May) were married in October 1976 and lived a full happy life together until Alix’s passing in 2017, together again.
Ray is survived by his children; Stephen Hare of Portland, Dana (Steve) Phillips and Piper (Jimmy) O’Brien of Seaside. Allyson (Sean) McGinnis of Portland, Darin May of Scappoose and Joslin (Doug) Angell of Portland.
Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren; Tiffany Phillips (d.1998), Meghan (Rob) Roy & Rylee Stacey of Richland, Oregon, Joesph O’Brien of Halfway, Oregon, Lindsey, Emily and Kayla Angell and Erin McGinnis all of Portland, Oregon.
Ray was blessed with 95 ½ years of a life well lived.
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