Raymond A. Nordstrom

Nordstrom was born July 8, 1920 in Sissiton, S. D. and left his family on Feb 14, 2012 at his home in Eureka, CA. He was the son of John & Olga Nordstrom and brother to 12 siblings. Raymond's father died when he was 3 years old and his mother in 1964.

When Ray was 16 he and 2 brothers jumped on a train bound for California. He worked on ranches around the Sacramento area. Ray joined the U.S. Navy for WWII where became a Chief Petty Officer on a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean. He was a very valuable sailor to the ship and was greatly respected for his skills in the engine room. Ray left the Navy, staying in San Francisco where he helped to replace pipes along Market Street. Ray left the Bay Area and moved to Big Tree Country in Humboldt to become a tree faller.

He moved his mother from South Dakota to live with him in Rio Dell, CA. Working there in the woods, he met Alda Viegas at the gas station. They were married in 1952 and had two children, Nancy and Rodney. Ray was one of the last big Redwood tree fallers, telling stories about how he had to fall giant Redwoods onto very small open areas. Anyone he worked for in the woods, knew if they had a hard tree to fall "call on Ray". He worked to woods for close to half a century.

Ray was a deer hunter and had many friends who went with him. He took Rodney on his first hunting trip but was so worried about getting him lost or hurt, they didn't get any deer. Nancy also went one time but it rained the whole time and he had her stay in camp. When it stopped raining, he told her, to stay close to the smoke of the fire, to keep the mosquitoes away. She came home with poison oak all over her face.

Raymond could shoot a gun and would best most everyone at the Blue Lake range. After retiring from the woods, Ray would use his abundant energy and zest for the outdoors, to work at his daughter's properties in Bridgeville and Fieldbrook, cutting, mowing and taking care of the land.

Every Fall, Ray would make apple pies with Nancy at her house with his apples from Eureka. They were famous among his family. Ray was the most loving, giving and caring father, he was always there for us and he also had a soft heart for all animals, feeding stray cats and raccoons in his yard. He would gather dropped apples in buckets and bring them to Fieldbrook to feed the deer.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Alda of Fortuna; daughter Nancy (David) Ambrosini of Fieldbrook; grandchildren Jedd (Melissa), Paul (Anda) Ambrosini and Laura Rose Ambrosini and 3 great-grandsons: Justin, Cody and Ryan Ambrosini; son Rodney (Debbie) Nordstrom of Eureka; grandchildren Fred, Tonja, Ryan, Dustin, Seylena, Matthew, and Alisha; and 8 great-grandchildren Devyn, Kaycee, Kaiya, Aaron, Ivan, Alexia, Nadya, and Ashten. He also is survived by his special niece Patty O'Farrell of Windsor; his mother-in-law Julia Viegas of Rio Dell; sister-in-law Nathalie Giacomini of Fortuna; and many other nieces and nephews.

Raymond was a big man, soft spoken, extremely funny, generous and sweet. How will we live without him?

Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to Miranda's Rescue.

There will be a Funeral Service Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:00 am at Pierce Mortuary, 707 H Street, Eureka, California. Ray will be laid to rest at Ocean View Cemetery at a private family interment.

To leave condolences for the family please visit www.piercemortuarychapels.com

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