Raymond was born on January 12, 1940 in Fort Definance, Arizona. He was raised partly by his maternal grandparents in Greasewood on the Navajo Reservation, and then later raised in Morenci, Arizona where he graduated high school. He was a superb student, as well as, a talented and gifted athlete. Ray played key roles in the high school sports that he was involved with... he played quarterback of his football team, pitcher of his baseball team, and point guard of his basketball team. It was noted that he was the only person to ever hit a baseball out of the Morenci High School baseball field! He was also vice-president of his high school council. After his high school graduation, he attended Arizona State University and studied Electrical Engineering.
With his engineering background, he went to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked several jobs within his technical field. In his early career, he worked as an electrical draftsperson, then later gained much experience working as an electrical engineer. His most noted employers were with Lockheed, Bay Area Rapid Transit, VTA Light Rail System in Santa Clara County, and working the Oakland Bay Bridge Span for Parsons-Brinkerhoff. All of which he held high visibility roles in his electrical engineering career.
He married Casey Burnside in January 1967 in San Leandro, California, and lived in Oakland, Mountain View, and eventaully purchased a home in Fremont, California where he lived for over 40 years. Ray became a father to three children, Shashawna, Fennemore, and Rachean. He also has four beautiful grandchildren named Ellena, Jaelyn, Travis, and Waylen. All of whom he loved dearly and always made the time to spend with family by taking his grandkids to breakfast, to the park, and taking them shopping. Ray played a huge support to his family and always would assist and support when he was called upon. He had a kind and giving heart and was always willing to lend someone help.
Ray had a strong work ethic and rarely missed a day of work. He did try to retired twice, but each time went back to find work as a way to keep active and to keep productive. His many interests include working on cars, watching sports, watching movies, fixing things around the home, listening to country-western music, reading the newspaper, and spending time with his family.
Ray will be greatly missed by all those that he touched in his life and he will forever be in our thoughts, and memories of him will live within each of us.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18