Raymond M. “Ray” Saunders Jr., 78, of Hermiston, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 2, 2005, at his home.
His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Pastor Gordon Bond will officiate.
Ray was born on July 30, 1927, at Salem. He moved with his family to Eagle Valley at the age of 5. He was a 1945 graduate of Eagle Valley High School at Richland.
Ray married Alice Martin on March 10, 1946, at Richland. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific on the USS Hollandia during World War II. He received the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal for his service.
After his honorable discharge, he and Alice moved to Baker City where they lived until moving to Hermiston in 2003. Ray retired as the parts manager at McNeil Auto Parts in Baker City in 1986.
He was a member of the American Legion and a past member of the Baker Elks Lodge. Ray enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, spending time with all of his girls, his family and his friends. He cherished gardening with Alice, his wife of nearly 60 years, as well as going on different special trips with her and other family members.
Survivors include his wife, Alice Saunders of Hermiston; two daughters, Terrilyn Kay Piquet, and her husband, Allen, of Hermiston, and Judith Ann Chapman and her husband, Charles, of Haskell, Texas; two sisters, Geneva Loughary of Baker City and Shirley Endicott of Riggins, Idaho; sister-in-law, Lorraine Braunder of Kettle Falls, Wash.; six granddaughters Raquel Piquet, Monique Piquet, Bridget Hinrichs, Danielle Piquet, Tonya Weatherman and Amy Burson; three great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; two nephews and six nieces; and his special companion, Taffy.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Carol Christopher; and his father and mother-in-law, Herman and Annavea Martin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Valley Cemetery or the Eagle Valley EMTs. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 9, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor