Shoeless Ray is not dead despite reports

MOSES LAKE - Shoeless Ray is alive and is possibly being treated at a facility outside of Moses Lake.

The Moses Lake community demonstrated its concern for the well-known man on Monday when rumors circulated about him dying.

He is known as Shoeless Ray or The Walker because he is commonly seen walking around Moses Lake without shoes and often poorly dressed during cold weather. Many believe he is homeless.

Shoeless Ray's real name is not being disclosed by the Columbia Basin Herald.

Numerous people recently posted comments on social media, including the Columbia Basin Herald's Facebook page, and called the newspaper to learn more about his death.

Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison said his office did not process Shoeless Ray or any anonymous man matching his description. All of the deceased processed through the coroner's officer were identified.

Neighboring counties' coroners do not have reports of Shoeless Ray having died either.

The information about Shoeless Ray was provided to the Columbia Basin Herald by Moses Lake emergency services personnel.

Details are not available about what kind of possible treatment or where it might be taking place, due to medical privacy laws.

It was revealed he is not in Moses Lake, which means many people are not seeing Shoeless Ray walking his normal routes.

"The outpouring from the community is touching and we hope the best for Shoeless Ray," said Columbia Basin Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley. "I hope when he returns he will be healthy and can see the care our community has for him."