Raymond "Ray" Layne Erlenbush

Ray was born on August 19, 1950, to Raymond Erlenbush and Margaret (Foster). Ray was born and raised in Pasco, WA, where lived until 1999 when he moved to Oregon. He and his wife, Emma (Sasing), recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.

Ray worked tirelessly and passionately as a truck driver and excavator for most of his life, following in the footsteps of his father. He was co-owner and operator for Ray L. Erlenbush Trucking and then L&R Erlenbush Trucking & Excavating, which he operated with his first wife, Leah (VanHollebeke), then later as owner of Ray Erlenbush Trucking. Through his work he made a physical mark on the world, assisting in the construction of numerous roads and building projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Along with his family, his trucking business was Ray’s pride, joy, and life’s work. He poured his heart and soul into the business, and the relationships he built with employees, customers and associates over the years are the evidence of his love for people. Ray could always be found chatting away in every truck shop.

Ray went through many years of dialysis, which greatly restricted his freedom to live life on his terms. He overcame many health challenges on his path to receiving a kidney transplant. In 2018, he successfully received a transplant and felt he had another shot at life. Over the last few years, he took advantage of the blessing of life, enjoying all the things he missed and cherished. He traveled to California and Hawaii to visit his daughters and grandchildren, and spent weekends camping, boating, and fishing with his wife and friends. However, anyone who knew Ray well knows that those hobbies (and his business) were really just excuses to hang out with people. Ray could talk for hours with anyone (and often did). He took every opportunity to drop in on friends, usually unannounced, to brighten up their day. He was always thinking about those in need. He brought cheer to strangers and friends alike with a joke or humorous anecdote in any situation – whether appropriate or not – which is one of the qualities that made him so special, and that so many of his friends and family will miss deeply. He also never passed up an opportunity to visit with his grandchildren, spoil them, or take them for a ride in one of his trucks.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents Raymond G. Erlenbush and Margaret Yost, older brother Dennis Reeves and sister Cheryl Corey. He is survived by his wife, Emma, daughters Shanessy Owens (Aaron) and Breanne Parks (Benjamin), soon to be 8 grandchildren Aeraci (14), Elias (12), Avram (10), Emeric (7), Briac (6), Braylia (4) and Breslyn (3), as well as his brother Steve Erlenbush (Jennifer) and an abundance of friends and other family who will miss Ray and his love for life and those around him.

Services to be announced soon.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hed-fh.com for the Erlenbush family.