Arthur Ray Allen

Ray was born in Yakima, WA, and lived with his parents, Arthur W. and Faye Allen, and his older sister, Shirley, in Naches, WA. Eight years later, Ray's sister, Joyce, joined the family.

Ray attended school in Naches growing up and was a bit of a scoundrel. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts. Sometime during his sophomore or junior year, he decided he'd had enough and joined the United States Army. Ray served approximately 4 and a half years and was a proud patriot serving in Germany and VietNam.

While serving in Germany, he learned to drive truck which turned out to be his lifelong profession once he was honorably discharged. He served 3 years, 2 months, and 25 days in VietNam as a door gunner on a helicopter. He was eventually shot in the hand and returned home as a Purple Heart recipient and received other medals as well. He was proud of his status as a veteran and was 100% service connected.

After returning home, he was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on Horseshoe Bend heading up the Chinook Pass Highway, and had lifelong issues because of it.

Ray lived a simple life and was a good man with a huge heart; and was also extremely generous - sometimes to a fault. During his years of trucking, he worked for several different logging companies both in Washington and Oregon. He also drove for Ace Hardware and eventually retired from Start Trucking hauling propane for All American Propane.

During his many years of trucking and just life in general, he made countless friends in different parts of the country and will be missed by many. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and collecting various things too numerous to mention.

Ray is survived by his life partner of over 25 years, Winona Anderson of Yakima, bonus son Wayne (wife Cheryl) and grandson Tom of Hawaii; and bonus daughter Linda Benoit, grandson Shelby, great-grandson Shayan, and grandson Levi of Sedro Wooley, WA; daughter Heather Allen; granddaughter Andre'a Roderick (husband Johnny) and two great-granddaughters Eden and Abigail; granddaughter Sydney Bryant and great-grandson Sawyer all from Oregon; daughter Amber Waltz from Tacoma, WA; grandson Josh Allen (wife Mitzy), great-grandson Jax and great-granddaughter Mia from Texas; grandson Jace Waltz and great-granddaughter Asher; and granddaughter Jodi Waltz from Oregon; son Norm Shanks (wife Tammy; grandson Brody and granddaughter Valarie from Sultan, WA. He is also survived by his sister Joyce Patteson, and special nephew Jeff Allen (wife Amy) from Allyn, WA; and great-nephews CJ and Corey from Georgia. Also surviving Ray is his good friend Jeff Haysom who Ray described as the brother he never had, and his best friend Wiley.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his older sister.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16th at West Hills Memorial Park. Following the service, a remembrance celebration will be held at the VFW in Yakima at 2:30 p.m. located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Walnut.

As previously stated, Ray was a simple and casual man so dress comfortably.

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist. That is all." - Oscar Wilde

Ray lived.