Ralph Arlen McAfee

Ralph Arlen McAfee was born June 12, 1961, at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon. His parents are Sylvia McAfee and Jack McAfee. Ralph was the 3rd of three boys with his sister arriving five years later. Ralph lived in Beaverton as a preschooler. He attended Cedar Oaks Elementary School in West Linn, then Uplands Elementary, Lake Oswego Jr. High and graduated from Lake Oswego High school in 1979. He participated in cross country in high school and ran two marathons before he graduated high school, one with his dad.

He was recruited by Willamette University to run Cross Country. His team was voted into the Willamette University Hall of Fame for the outstanding performance of his 1979 team. Ralph attended WU until he contracted bronchitis and had to leave running for a period of time. He continued his higher education while working at various restaurant jobs and painting. He got his bachelor’s degree in Math and Secondary education at Western Oregon University in June 1985. Ralph started dating LeeAnne Jarrett in 1983 and they were married August 31st, 1985, at Pringle Park in Salem, Oregon. He was hired by Reynolds School District and worked at HB Lee Middle School for one year. He returned to school to get his 5th year teaching credentials and then taught math at Corbett High School 1987-1990.

Ralph had a strong work ethic formed through his jobs of delivering papers, on assembly line work at RFD Publications, as a busboy and cook, and as a painter’s helper the summer of his junior year. He started his own painting business in 1979, working every summer to support himself through his college years. After he started teaching, he continued painting in the summers, getting large condominium projects on Hayden Island, in addition to private homes, hiring up to 8 employees at a time. Ralph moved into painting full-time in 1990. This gave him greater flexibility to be involved with his kids and attend school events. He returned to teaching in 1999 as a Reynolds High school math teacher. He left teaching in 2016 but continued to paint in the summers. Ralph was the consummate professional in his painting business and in teaching. He held high expectations for himself and his students and was very respectful with his customers, offering them the highest quality work he could provide.

Ralph and LeeAnne bought a house in Gresham, Oregon in 1989 and started a family. Tabitha Lan was born 1990, Ryan James, 1992 and Tyler Jordan-Nolan, 1994. Ralph and LeeAnne were very active in their children’s lives, encouraging them in their sports and activities. Ralph coached YMCA and little league teams and made it a priority to attend all their performances and games. He participated in the Nutcracker with Tabitha and ran countless races with Ryan and Tyler. Ralph led our family in striving to run our best. Ralph and Ryan qualified and ran the Boston marathon in 2010. Tyler had a dream to run it on his 23rd birthday, April 17th, 2017. Ralph qualified along with his two boys on Ralph’s 55th birthday at Tunnel Light marathon with a 3:17 time, and the three men ran the Boston Marathon on Tyler’s birthday, nothing short of a miracle. Ralph also wanted his kids to have a strong work ethic and hired each of them to paint with him through their high school/college years. They learned hard work and a skill that would serve them in the future. Running and working together were some of the most special moments Ralph shared with his kids.

Ralph was never short of energy. Aside from working, raising a family and running marathons, Ralph always looked to the future as a provider. He and LeeAnne bought a rental house in 1994 and a four-plex in 1998. After selling the rental house, years later, with the inspiration of their boys, they bought a foreclosed 3-plex to renovate. This became a full-time family project for the summer of 2010, more bonding through hard work. Two years later, his sister and brother-in-law wanted to do a similar project with Ralph and LeeAnne, so the two families bought a foreclosed 4-plex in 2012. Both families and cousins worked on this for a year. Many lessons have been learned in being property owners, but the investments have also provided much security for Ralph and LeeAnne heading into retirement.

Ralph has won many awards for his running, placing high in his age group. He ran the Tunnel Light Marathon the day after his 65th birthday. On May 30th, he challenged himself to his first Spartan Race in Colorado Springs and finished in the top 34%. He had qualified for the October 2026 Chicago marathon with a 3:43 marathon at Tunnel Light in Snoqualmie, Washington at 64 years old.

Throughout the years, above the hard work and family values, Ralph held his position as Spiritual leader of the family as his highest calling. The family attended Lynchwood Church of God from 1986 – 2001. Ralph was involved in Men’s ministries, LIVE weekends, social gatherings and led a Fantasy Basketball league for several years. Ralph and LeeAnne moved to East Hill church in 2001 looking to strengthen their marriage during the stressful years of raising kids. They became involved with marriage mentoring and have mentored dozens of couples over the years. One more move came around 2014 to Good Shepherd Community Church. Ralph and LeeAnne were now empty nesters and looked for community close to home. They continued marriage mentoring, served coffee and participated in a Growth Group. Informally, Ralph sought to serve the Lord in many ways: helping widows, mentoring young people, helping the homeless, supporting Salvation Army and generously financially supporting various charities and family members.

Ralph was a wise, compassionate man who was young at heart and always ready to laugh. He had a large capacity for love, relationship and hard work. He was often sought out by others to lead, advise and assist. He, himself reached out and connected with others everywhere and anywhere – calling these his 5-minute friendships. He adored his wife, LeeAnne and showered her with love and kindness. He planned vacations, dates and prioritized his marriage above all else. He was painting the family home when he had an unfortunate accident that took his life. He passed with his wife by his side on July 5th, 2026, at Emanual Hospital. We all are confident that Ralph is in heaven with his Savior the Lord Jesus. We may not know why, but we trust that God had a reason to take him at this time. His Dad, Jack said that a thought came to him that Ralph would be painting rainbows in Heaven. He is greatly missed and has left a huge hole in many family member’s and friend’s hearts. He would want those he’s left behind to know the Lord Jesus and follow Him, value family and relationship, be grateful, enjoy laughter and work hard for the good of others.

Ralph is survived by his wife, LeeAnne, three children and spouses, Tabitha and DJ, Ryan, Tyler and Sabrina and six grandchildren (Juniper, Theodor, Solomon, Beckham, Lillian and Ridge), his mom, Sylvia and dad, Jack and three siblings, Ron, Fred and Jackie.