Raymond E. Maki

Ray was born in Sikes Township in North Dakota on April 26th 193o. He passed away at his home of 48 years in Renton Washington on January 16th 2015 at 9:11 pm at the age of 84 of natural causes. He was in the company of his wife, daughter and granddaughter. He was bedridden for the last 2 years and was cared for at home by his wife Esther and children Colleen and Calvin.Ray was the youngest son of 5 born to William and Mary Maki of Belden North Dakota. On November 27th 1959, he married Esther Arndt in the Apostalic Lutheran Church of Belden North Dakota . That union of 55 years gave him 3 children, Virgil Ray Maki (Dawnan Maki) 1960-2014, Calvin Carl Maki (Penny Maki) 1961, and Colleen Renae Zable 1962, and 6 grandchildren, Rikki Ann Tyler (Drew Tyler), Amanda Marie Shepherd (Billy Shepherd), Travis Raymond Maki, Brittany Elizabeth Maki, Shaylin June Marie Maki, Sarah Gale Zable, and one great grandson Jaxson Alexander Shephard and one step-great granddaughter Elysia Vinyard (Tyler).Ray attended country school in Sikes Township through the Elementary grades. After that he worked the farm with his father, in 1954 he joined the Army during the Korean Conflict, was trained as a welder and honorably discharged in 1956. After that he held several jobs in the oil fields, at the missile sites, and also farming.In 1967 he moved his family to Renton Washington and became a Cement finisher, until he was unable to continue working due to injuries on the job, he then became a house spouse and family babysitter of his grandchildren. He enjoyed his weekend camping trips, and fishing with his granddaughters. He also enjoyed dirt biking with his family on camping trips. He did a lot of wood working, making toy boxes/hope chests, rocking horses, potty chairs, doll cradles for the grand children and several yard structures such as wind mills, a donkey pulling a flower cart and nativity scene for Christmas just to name a few.