Ray took his train ride to heaven on November 22, 2023. He went to plant flowers and build his train layout in the garden with God.

Ray and Mary grew up and went to school together in a small town in Oregon. Ray went into the Navy and when he got back to Oregon, he married his sweetheart, Mary Mossberger. They had a son, Kraig. Ray and his family moved to the state of Washington, and this is home now. Ray loved his family more than anything.

Ray was happiest on his tractor in his yard. His plants moved around a lot, and he enjoyed planting more and more. If one plant was good, well, a dozen was even better.

Ray liked to play trains. You know, the G-Scale model trains. He called them "The Old Geezer" scale. That is because he could see them, repair them, and run them around the track with friends and family. He loved to let little kids run his trains around the track. He belonged to the Big Train Operators Club, The Greater Vancouver Garden Railway Club, and the Puget Sound Garden Railway Society. He met many friends in the train community who will miss him.

Ray was a member of The Operating Engineers Local 302 for over 50 years. He spent most of his time in Alaska.

He leaves behind his wife Mary, their son Kraig and his wife Kathy Mitchell; grandson, Jacob Mitchell; granddaughters Loren and her husband Philip Westich, Alannah, and Anna Mitchell; two great grandchildren, Gideon and Juliet Westich; sister-in-law, Judy Seely; nephew Eldon Mossberger and family; nieces, Jody O'Brien and family, and Rachel Mossberger; nephews, Bryan and wife Elizabeth Mitchell and family; Brad and wife Kerri Mitchell and family; two half-sisters, Sherry Miska and Margo Schultz.

Ray was cremated. At his request there will not be a service. He would say, "Hug your family and friends. Have fun and run trains. And plant more garlic."